The province of Phitsanulok is situated on the banks of Nan River in the lower northern part of Thailand. The province is approximately 377 kilometers from Bangkok. The entire province comprises mainly of flatland with mountain ranges towards the east, which are home to lush green national parks and waterfalls.
Phitsanulok was one of the important communities during the Khmer rule and it earned a lot of prosperity during the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods. Between 1463 and 1487, King Borom Trailokanat of Ayutthaya used to permanently live in the province, thus making it another royal capital.
Today Phitsanulok is a major tourist attraction that draws people not just from Thailand but also from around the world. People come to see the many tourist sites including the Wat Phra Si Mahathat.
The locals call Wat Phra Si Mahathat Wat Yai and it is situated on the east bank of Nan River within the limits of Phitsanulok town, the provincial capital. It is believed that the viharn of the temple is home to one of the most beautiful and elegant Buddha images in Thailand. The Buddha image is made from bronze in the Sukhothai style of architecture. It is officially known as Phra Phutthachinarat. Owing to its large size, many foreign and local visitors come to the temple daily to admire and pay respect to the image. Every year in late January, a celebration is held in the temple to honor Phra Phutthachinarat.
Another attractive aspect of the temple is its large pearl inlaid doors, which are at the entrance of viharn. It is believed that doors were crafted in the late Ayutthaya period around 1756. The temple also houses another image known as Phra Attharot, which is an 8-meter tall standing image of Buddha. Originally the Phra Phutthachinarat was housed in a large viharn but the roof is no longer there. So, the bronze image now stands in open air surrounded by large columns of the collapsed viharn.
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