Phichit Old Town Park

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: Approximately 08.00 – 18.00

 

Phichit Old Town Park in Phichit Province is one of the most important historical and cultural attractions in Mueang Phichit District. Located about 7 km from Phichit city, the park is believed to cover the site of the old city of Phichit, traditionally associated with Phraya Khotrabong and dated in local accounts to around 1058 CE, or 1601 BE. The area covers more than 400 rai and contains traces of the old city, including moats, city walls, ancient temple ruins, Wat Mahathat, Phichit City Pillar Shrine, Chalawan Cave, Ko Si Mala, and Kanchanakuman Arboretum. It is a meaningful destination for travelers interested in Thai history, archaeology, folklore, literature, sacred places, and quiet green landscapes.

 

Phichit Old Town Park allows visitors to see the historical roots of Phichit beyond its modern provincial town. The old city area is believed to have been an important settlement with an organized urban layout, religious center, defensive system, and surrounding water features. The remaining moats, earthworks, brick ruins, and temple foundations suggest that this was once a significant community in the lower northern region of Thailand. Walking through the park gives travelers a sense of how history, landscape, and local memory still coexist in Phichit today.

 

The appeal of the park lies in the way it combines history, literature, folklore, religious belief, and nature in one large area. A visit can begin at Phichit City Pillar Shrine, continue to Wat Mahathat to see the ancient brick remains, then move to Chalawan Cave, which is connected with the Thai literary story of Krai Thong. Visitors can also explore Ko Si Mala, the moats, and shaded areas of Kanchanakuman Arboretum. This makes the park more than a collection of ruins; it is a place where the identity of Phichit can be understood through several layers of meaning.

 

Phichit City Pillar Shrine is one of the most important sites inside the park. Built in 1977, the shrine building has two levels. The upper level houses the city pillar, while the lower level enshrines the image of Phraya Khotrabong, locally respected as “Pho Pu.” Local people often visit the shrine to pay respect and ask for blessings. For travelers, this is a good starting point because it introduces the spiritual and legendary foundation of the old city.

 

Wat Mahathat is the most important ancient temple within the old city area. It is located near the center of the old settlement on the eastern side of the old Nan River. The temple was built of brick and was registered as an ancient monument in 1935. Today, visitors can still see the remains of the main stupa, smaller stupas, the base of the vihara, the ordination hall area, boundary stones, and other brick structures. Although many parts have collapsed over time, the surviving layout still reveals the temple’s importance as a religious center of old Phichit.

 

The Fine Arts Department excavated and studied Wat Mahathat in 1991, finding evidence of structures from both the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods. This makes the site especially valuable for historical interpretation. The temple is not simply a ruined structure; it represents several periods of occupation, rebuilding, and religious activity. Visitors who take time to observe the brick bases, stupa remains, and surrounding layout can better understand how the old city developed over time.

 

Chalawan Cave is one of the most famous parts of Phichit Old Town Park because of its connection with the story of Krai Thong, a well-known Thai literary work associated with King Rama II. The cave is linked to the legend of Chalawan, the crocodile king, which is deeply connected to the cultural identity of Phichit. Local stories say the cave once extended deep underground, and there are accounts of a monk from Wat Nakhon Chum entering the cave with a candle but failing to reach the end before the candle burned out. These stories have given the cave a mysterious reputation.

 

Today, Chalawan Cave has become shallower because of accumulated earth and natural changes, but sculptures of Krai Thong and the crocodile Chalawan stand near the cave entrance as symbolic features. This makes the site easy for visitors to understand and photograph. It is also a useful place for explaining Thai literature to children and foreign travelers, because it connects a physical location with a famous story from Thai cultural memory.

 

Ko Si Mala is another interesting feature of the old city. It appears as a raised earth mound resembling a small island in the moat area outside the old city wall. Because of its position within the defensive landscape, some interpretations suggest it may have functioned as a guard point, watchtower, or strategic area outside the city. Visiting Ko Si Mala helps travelers understand that old city planning involved not only temples and settlement areas, but also defense, water management, and control of surrounding spaces.

 

Kanchanakuman Arboretum adds an important natural dimension to the park. Established by the Royal Forest Department in 1977, the arboretum makes the old city area greener and more pleasant for walking. Large trees and shaded paths help soften the atmosphere of the ancient ruins and provide resting points for visitors. The combination of trees and brick ruins gives the park a quiet and contemplative character.

 

Phichit Old Town Park is best visited slowly. It is not a place to rush through in a few minutes. Travelers interested in history should allow at least one to two hours to visit the city pillar shrine, Wat Mahathat, Chalawan Cave, and the surrounding old city landscape. Those who enjoy photography may want to visit in the morning or late afternoon, when the light is softer and the ancient brick remains look more atmospheric under the shade of trees.

 

The park is also suitable for families. Children can learn about old cities, ancient temples, moats, legends, and Thai literature outside the classroom. Parents can tell the story of Krai Thong and Chalawan while visiting the cave, making the trip more engaging. The shaded green environment also makes the park more comfortable for family walking than many open archaeological sites.

 

For foreign travelers, Phichit Old Town Park offers a compact introduction to several important Thai cultural concepts: an old city site, a city pillar shrine, ancient Buddhist ruins, moats, local legends, and literature-based tourism. It shows that Phichit is not merely a province along a travel route, but a place with its own historical identity and folklore. With local interpretation or a guide, the visit can become even more meaningful.

 

Getting There is straightforward from Phichit city. Take the Phichit-Wang Chik route, Highway 1068, which runs parallel to the old Phichit River. After about 7 km, visitors will reach Phichit Old Town Park. The entrance toward the city pillar shrine and Wat Mahathat is on the left side. A private car is the most convenient way to visit because the main points inside and around the park can be reached more flexibly.

 

Travelers using public transport can first arrive in Phichit city, then continue by local transport to the park. Because the distance from town is not far, the visit can be planned as a half-day trip. Visitors staying in Phichit city can go in the morning and return for lunch, or visit in the afternoon and enjoy the softer evening atmosphere before returning to town.

 

The best time to visit is in the morning or late afternoon. The weather is usually more comfortable, and walking around the ruins is easier. Although the park has many shaded areas, some parts are open to the sun. Visitors should bring drinking water, sun protection, and comfortable walking shoes. During the rainy season, be careful of slippery ground around the ruins and paths.

 

Respectful behavior is important at historical and sacred sites. Visitors should not climb on ancient structures, move bricks or fragments, write on ruins, litter, or damage the site. When visiting the city pillar shrine or sacred areas, polite dress and respectful conduct are recommended. These practices help preserve the old city for future visitors and researchers.

 

A visit to Phichit Old Town Park can be combined with other attractions in Phichit city, such as Bueng Si Fai, Wat Tha Luang, the old provincial hall area, and local river-fish restaurants. A good one-day route can begin at the old town in the morning, continue with lunch in town, and end at Bueng Si Fai or Wat Tha Luang in the afternoon. This gives visitors a balanced experience of history, literature, nature, and local food.

 

Overall, Phichit Old Town Park is more than a green park or a photo spot. It is a layered cultural landscape where ancient city remains, Buddhist ruins, local legends, sacred spaces, literature, and nature come together. Visitors can see Phichit City Pillar Shrine, Wat Mahathat, Chalawan Cave, Ko Si Mala, moats, old city walls, and Kanchanakuman Arboretum in one area. For travelers who want to understand Phichit beyond the name “the city of Chalawan,” this old town park is one of the most meaningful places to visit.

 

 

A: No. Phichit Old Town Park is in Phichit Province, not Kamphaeng Phet Province. It is located about 7 km from Phichit city.

 

A: Visitors can see Phichit City Pillar Shrine, Wat Mahathat, Chalawan Cave, Ko Si Mala, old moats, city wall remains, and Kanchanakuman Arboretum.

 

A: The park generally opens daily from approximately 08.00 to 18.00. Morning and late afternoon are the most comfortable times to visit.

 

A: No. There is no admission fee for visiting the old town park and its main historical areas.

 

A: Chalawan Cave is famous because it is connected with the legend of Chalawan, the crocodile king, and the Thai literary story of Krai Thong.

 

A: From Phichit city, take the Phichit-Wang Chik route, Highway 1068, for about 7 km. The entrance to the city pillar shrine and Wat Mahathat is on the left.

 

A: Yes. It is suitable for families because it offers history, legends, shaded walking areas, and a strong connection with Thai literature that children can learn from.

 

A: Bring drinking water, sun protection, comfortable walking shoes, and dress politely when visiting the city pillar shrine or sacred areas.