Chom Nan Chaloem Phrakiat Park

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 06.00 – 20.00

 

Chom Nan Chaloem Phrakiat Park in Phitsanulok is one of the most meaningful riverside public spaces in the historic city known as Mueang Song Khwae, or the city of two rivers. Located along the Nan River in the heart of town, the park offers a calm green space for walking, jogging, relaxing, enjoying river views, and experiencing the everyday rhythm of local life. It is also conveniently connected to some of Phitsanulok’s most important cultural landmarks, including Wat Ratchaburana, Wat Nang Phaya, and Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Woramahawihan, the revered temple of Phra Buddha Chinnarat.

 

For foreign travelers, Chom Nan Chaloem Phrakiat Park is not simply a public park. It is a gentle introduction to the relationship between Phitsanulok and the Nan River, a waterway that has shaped the city’s landscape, history, spirituality, and daily life for generations. The river has long been part of local transportation, trade, temple culture, and community memory. By transforming this riverside area into a public green space, the city has preserved a connection between urban life and nature in a way that remains practical, accessible, and meaningful for both residents and visitors.

 

The park was developed in 1999 as part of the effort to increase green areas and improve the riverside environment for public use. Its name reflects both its riverside setting and its commemorative purpose. Because of this, the park carries more than recreational value. It also represents civic pride, loyalty, and the city’s intention to provide a shared public space where people of all ages can gather, exercise, rest, celebrate, and enjoy the beauty of the Nan River without leaving the city center.

 

The location of Chom Nan Chaloem Phrakiat Park is one of its greatest strengths. It lies along Borom Trailokkanat Road beside the Nan River, close to Wat Ratchaburana and within easy reach of Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Woramahawihan. This makes it simple for travelers to create a half-day or full-day walking route through central Phitsanulok. A visitor can begin with a visit to Phra Buddha Chinnarat, continue to Wat Nang Phaya and Wat Ratchaburana, and then pause at the park to rest by the river. This combination gives travelers a balanced view of the city: sacred temples, historical memory, riverside scenery, and the everyday life of local people.

 

The atmosphere of the park changes beautifully throughout the day. In the early morning, the air is fresh and the riverside is peaceful. Local residents come out to walk, run, stretch, or exercise before beginning their day. Soft morning light reflects on the river surface, creating a calm and open mood. This is one of the best times for travelers who prefer a quiet visit, gentle photography, or a slow walk along the river before the city becomes busy.

 

During the day, the park functions as a convenient rest stop in the city center. Travelers coming from nearby temples can pause under the shade, sit by the river, or use the park as a meeting point before continuing to another attraction. As Phitsanulok can become hot in the afternoon, visitors should bring drinking water, a hat, or an umbrella if they plan to spend time walking in the sun. Even so, the open riverside setting helps the space feel less crowded and more comfortable than many enclosed urban areas.

 

Late afternoon and early evening are the most lively and photogenic times to visit. As the sunlight becomes softer, more people arrive to exercise, take children for a walk, sit with friends, or watch the sunset. The golden reflection of the sun on the Nan River gives the park a warm and memorable atmosphere. For travelers who want to see Phitsanulok beyond its temples and historical sites, this is an excellent time to experience the city as local people do.

 

At night, the park becomes quieter and more romantic. City lights, bridge lights, and reflections from the riverbank create a different mood from the daytime. Some visitors continue to walk or exercise, while others sit quietly and enjoy the view. The calm surface of the Nan River and the soft urban lights make the park a pleasant place to unwind after sightseeing. Visitors should remain within well-lit public areas and follow the park’s opening hours for safety and consideration of the community.

 

One of the main attractions of Chom Nan Chaloem Phrakiat Park is its riverside walking and jogging route. The path allows visitors to exercise while enjoying views of the Nan River, nearby temples, bridges, and the city skyline. It is suitable for light walking, jogging, casual running, and short daily workouts. Outdoor exercise equipment is also available in some areas, making the park useful for a wide range of people, from students and working adults to elderly residents.

 

The park is also a family-friendly public space. Parents can bring children for a walk, elderly visitors can sit and enjoy the river breeze, and travelers can take a break without having to enter a commercial venue. This is one of the reasons the park is important to Phitsanulok. It is a shared space where people from different backgrounds and generations can use the same public environment naturally. For a visitor, this offers a chance to observe the city’s everyday life in a respectful and relaxed way.

 

Chom Nan Chaloem Phrakiat Park plays an important role in the city’s annual events and cultural activities. The riverside area is used for public gatherings, commemorative events, food festivals, countdown celebrations, Songkran festivities, and Loy Krathong activities. During festivals, the quiet riverside park transforms into a lively community space filled with lights, performances, food stalls, cultural shows, and local crowds. These events help travelers understand that the park is not only a place for exercise, but also a civic stage for shared celebration.

 

Loy Krathong is one of the most visually memorable times to visit the riverside area. As people gather near the Nan River to float krathong baskets, candlelight reflects on the water and creates a warm, spiritual atmosphere. The tradition connects gratitude toward water, local belief, family participation, and community life. At Chom Nan Chaloem Phrakiat Park, this living tradition is not presented as a museum display; it takes place in the same riverside environment that local people continue to use and value.

 

During Songkran, the park and its surrounding streets often become part of the festive atmosphere in central Phitsanulok. People gather for merit-making, water activities, and seasonal celebration. At the end of the year, food fairs and countdown events bring another kind of energy to the park, attracting both residents and travelers. These seasonal changes make the park worth visiting more than once, as each occasion reveals a different aspect of the city.

 

The park’s proximity to Wat Ratchaburana gives it a strong cultural context. Wat Ratchaburana is one of the old temples associated with the historic fabric of Phitsanulok, while Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Woramahawihan is one of the most important Buddhist temples in Thailand. A visit to the park can therefore be combined naturally with temple visits and historical exploration. Foreign travelers who wish to understand Phitsanulok as more than a transit city will find this riverside area especially useful because it brings together religion, urban history, daily life, and natural scenery within a compact area.

 

Chom Nan Chaloem Phrakiat Park also demonstrates how Phitsanulok has developed around its river. The Nan River is not only a scenic backdrop. It is a living element of the city, influencing settlement patterns, temple locations, community activities, and emotional memory. By keeping the riverbank accessible to the public, the park helps maintain the city’s connection to water while giving residents a healthier and more pleasant urban environment.

 

For photography, the park offers different scenes throughout the day. Morning provides soft light and local exercise scenes. Evening offers sunset reflections and riverside silhouettes. Nighttime creates a quieter cityscape with lights on the water. From the park, visitors can capture the river, nearby temples, bridges, trees, and the movement of local people in a single frame. The beauty here is modest but authentic, which is exactly what makes it appealing.

 

Families can use the park as a practical break during a city trip. Because it is close to restaurants, hotels, temples, and major roads, it is easy to include in a travel plan without requiring a long detour. Visitors with children or elderly family members should consider coming in the morning or late afternoon to avoid strong heat. A typical visit may take around 30 minutes to 1 hour, though festival periods may require more time because of crowds and special activities.

 

For wellness-oriented travelers, the park is a good place to start the day with a walk or jog before sightseeing. The riverside air and open view make exercise feel lighter and more enjoyable. Travelers staying in hotels around the city center, Borom Trailokkanat Road, or Wang Chan Road can reach the riverside area conveniently. This makes the park a practical choice for visitors who want to maintain a simple fitness routine while traveling in northern Thailand.

 

Getting There is straightforward because the park is located in central Phitsanulok. Travelers with a private car can follow Borom Trailokkanat Road toward the Nan River and Wat Ratchaburana area. From Phitsanulok Railway Station, visitors can take a tuk-tuk, local songthaew, or city taxi. From the bus terminal or Phitsanulok Airport, a taxi, ride service, or rental car can be used to enter the city center. The park is also easy to combine with Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Woramahawihan, Wat Nang Phaya, Wat Ratchaburana, Chan Palace, and other cultural attractions in town.

 

A well-planned visit to Chom Nan Chaloem Phrakiat Park can be part of a broader cultural route. Travelers may begin with Phra Buddha Chinnarat at Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Woramahawihan, continue to Wat Nang Phaya and Wat Ratchaburana, have lunch near the river, and return to the park in the late afternoon for sunset. This route is suitable for both Thai and international travelers because it introduces Phitsanulok through faith, history, food, local life, and riverside scenery.

 

Visitors should help keep the park clean, avoid littering, respect other users, and use the public space considerately. Since the park is shared by residents and travelers, simple courtesy is important. Keeping the riverside clean also helps preserve the Nan River environment, which remains one of the central elements of Phitsanulok’s identity.

 

Chom Nan Chaloem Phrakiat Park is therefore one of the best places to experience the quieter side of Phitsanulok. It may not be a grand monument or a large tourist complex, but it reveals something essential about the city: its river, its temples, its people, and its everyday sense of place. For anyone visiting Mueang Song Khwae, this riverside park is worth including in the itinerary, especially in the morning, at sunset, or during one of the city’s major riverside festivals.

 

 

A: The park is located along the Nan River on Borom Trailokkanat Road in central Phitsanulok, close to Wat Ratchaburana and Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Woramahawihan.

 

A: The park is open daily from 06.00 to 20.00, making it suitable for morning walks, evening exercise, and sunset views.

 

A: No. The park has no admission fee and is available as a public riverside recreation area.

 

A: Morning is ideal for fresh air and light exercise, while late afternoon and early evening are best for sunset views and riverside photography.

 

A: Yes. The park is suitable for families, elderly visitors, joggers, photographers, and travelers who want a relaxed stop in central Phitsanulok.

 

A: Visitors can easily combine the park with Wat Ratchaburana, Wat Nang Phaya, Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Woramahawihan, Chan Palace, and Sgt. Maj. Thawee Folk Museum.

 

A: Yes. The park is used for public events and seasonal festivals such as Loy Krathong, Songkran, food fairs, countdown celebrations, and commemorative activities.

 

A: Travelers can take a tuk-tuk, songthaew, city taxi, or local transport from Phitsanulok Railway Station. The park is in the city center and is close to major temples and riverside landmarks.