Uttaradit
Uttaradit (อุตรดิตถ์) is a city and province in lower northern Thailand.
Understand
Uttradit has a long history developing through the years since pre-historic times. The site of the original town, then called Bang Pho Tha It, was on the right bank of the Nan River. It flourished as a port for goods transportation. As a result, King Rama V elevated its status to a province and re-named it Uttradit, literally the "port of the north".
Uttradit is 483 kilometres north of Bangkok and covers an area of 7,838 km2.
See
Sak Yai (สักใหญ่) At Ban Pang Klua, Tambon Namkrai about 53 km away from the province with an area of about 20,000 rai and consists of various unsorted woods. Notably, this botanical forest has a biggest teak tree in the world: 37 m high with a circumference of 9.5 m. Around 1,500 years old it had reached 47 m tall until damaged in a windstorm.
Klong Tron (คลองตรอน) national park has a natural forest covering 324,241 rai or about 518.80 km2. It consists of high and low hills.
Phu Miang (ภูเมี่ยง) at Tambon Nam Pai, the Phu Miang mountains divide Uttaradit Province and Phitsanulok Province. They are about 1,656 m above sea level. At the peak, you can view both provinces and see Sirikit Dam. The Klong Tron waterfall of eight levels is here.
Chan cave (ถ้ำจัน) at Tambon Nam Krai. It is the middle cave of five. The way to the cave is very steep and the cave entrance is semicirclar. Inside is a huge room. The ceiling is about 20 m high and in the middle of the cave is a Buddha image.
Tao cave (ถ้ำเต่า) at Tambon Nam Krai. It is on another mountain and about 620 m from Tham Chan Cave. From the cave entrance, a walkway has an excavation which looks like a stone sculpture. The way to the cave is a bit complicated; on the left side has a 17 m long hollow being steep until the first room. From here, there is a tiny hole you can go through. Another room is linked with the right walkway. From here, you can walk to the large room where a six metre high stone pillar is in the middle. In the cave are beautiful stalagmite and stalactites.
Phu Soi Dao (ภูสอยดาว) with an area of 125,110 rai covering Nam Pad district of Uttaradit and Chat Trakan district of Phitsanulok, the park, particularly at the height 1,428 metres in Ban Rom Klao, used to be the stronghold of the communists. In a mountainous area with elevations over 1,800 m, the topography of the park is like that of Phu Kradung. It is cool throughout the year. Beside interesting natural attractions in the park, tents are available for tourists.
Phu Soi Dao Waterfall, near the park office, it is shaded by trees and plants. The five level cascade houses a tourist service center. No accommodation, but campsites are available. From the falls to atop the hill is about a 4–5 hr walk.
Sai Tip Waterfall (น้ำตกสายทิพย์) in the middle of the pine forest, is one of the most beautiful falls in the park. It has seven levels, which can be reached by walking from the camping area down to the seventh level.
Wat Thamma Thipatai (วัดธรรมาธิปไตย) is where the door panels of the large and ancient viharn of Wat Phra Fang are kept. The carved design is of the graceful style of the late-Ayutthaya period. They are rated as the second best such creation next only to those at Wat Suthat in Bangkok.
Wat Tha Thanon (วัดท่าถนน) houses Luang Pho Phet (หลวงพ่อเพชร), the principal Buddha statue of the province. It is of the Chiang Saen-style and cast in bronze.
Wat Yai Tha Sao (วัดใหญ่ท่าเสา) It features and old viharn with beautiful wood-carved door panels and lintels.
The Phraya Phichai Dap Hak Memorial (อนุสาวรีย์พระยาพิชัยดาบหัก) As governor of Muang Phichai (south of Uttaradit) about 200 years ago during the Thon Buri Period, he valiantly fought with Burmese evaders until one of his swords broke in two. But he prevailed, hence the sobriquet "Phichai of the Broken Sword".
Uttaradit Provincial Cultural Hall (หอวัฒนธรรมจังหวัดอุตรดิตถ์) houses important historical relics. A major item is the "Yan Mat" (ยานมาศ), a carved wooden carrying pole made by late-Ayutthaya Period craftsmen.
Wat Klang (วัดกลาง) is an old temple with beautiful plaster bas-reliefs over the ubosot. Inside are rare wall murals of the Early Rattanakosin Period style depicting the Jataka and assemblage of celestial beings.
The Phra Si Phanommat Memorial (อนุสาวรีย์พระศรีพนมมาศ) commemorates a community leader who was highly revered by the townspeople. The Chinese-born alcohol tax collector contributed greatly to the development of the community and was rewarded with the rank of Phra Si Phanommat from King Rama V.
Wat Phra Borom That Thung Yang (วัดพระบรมธาตุทุ่งยั้ง) An old temple, once called Wat Mahathat. There is a large, circular-shaped, Ceylonese-style chedi enshrining a holy relic.
Wat Phra Yun Phutthabat Yukhon (วัดพระยืนพุทธบาทยุคล) features a Chiang Saen-style mondop which covers a pair of holy footprints. It also houses a Sukhothai-style Buddha statue cast in bronze.
Wat Phra Thaen Sila Art (วัดพระแท่นศิลาอาสน์) The major feature is the base of a sermon platform built with laterite. The square slab with pattern is believed to have been made during the Sukhothai Period.
Namtok Mae Phun (น้ำตกแม่พูล) at Ban Ton Klua, about 20 kilometres from town. The dam-like barrier creates multi-level cascades amid pleasant natural surroundings.
Bo Lek Nam Phi (บ่อเหล็กน้ำพี้) was the source of the best quality iron ore which was used to fashion swords and weapons in the past. Today, there are still two "wells". Ores from these two sources are believed to have been used to make swords for kings.
Lam Nam Nan National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติลำน้ำน่าน) It is a complex mountain range comprising various kinds of abundant forests. It covers a total area of 624,468 rai (999 km2) and consists of mixed deciduous forest, dry evergreen forest, hill evergreen forest and deciduous dipterocarp forest, where the leaves will transform into beautiful colours during winter and is a habitat of various types of animals such as barking deer, deer, wild boars, bears and more than 200 species of birds. Sirikit Dam (เขื่อนสิริกิติ์), in the park, is the country's largest earthen dam.
Do
Phraya Phichai Dap Hak and Red Cross Fair (งานพระยาพิชัยดาบหักและงานกาชาด) is an annual commeration of the heroic deeds of Phraya Phichai. It is help from 7–16 January at the Phraya Phichai Dap Hak Stadium, and includes Provincial Red Cross Centre’s booths selling products, traditional and cultural performances, various forms of entertainment and a ceremony to worship Phraya Phichai Dap Hak.
The Tradition of Buddha Cremation (ประเพณีถวายพระเพลิงพระบรมศพพระพุทธเจ้า), a religious ritual seen nowhere else, is held at Wat Phra Borom That Thung Yang after Visakha Bucha day in May. It features the re-enactment the funeral ceremony for the Lord Buddha.
Durian festival is held each year around the beginning of June in Laplae district. The province is most famous for two new varieties of durian which lack the usual, and to some people offensive, odour: Longlaplae and Linlaplae, both named after Laplae District. Durian production in Uttaradit province is estimated to be around 20,000 tonnes in 2012. The province has approximately 10,600 acres of durian orchards.
Langsat festival is held each year around the middle to end of September. The langsat (Lansium parasiticum), for which Uttaradit is famous, is a fruit that is similar in taste to the longan.
Buy
Interesting items include woven materials (ผลิตภัณฑ์จากผ้าพื้นเมือง) with their lovely designs and colours, and preserved edibles made from local fruits such as chewy Kluai Kuan (กล้วยกวน) which is made from banana.
Eat
Uttaradit has a surprising number of places to eat, including a couple chain restaurants. Some of the most popular places include a large food-court located on the top floor of Friday's grocery store where they have reasonably priced Thai dishes, desserts and beverages. Like many food-courts in Thailand, customers buy food coupons to pay vendors.
KFC can be found inside the Lotus department store downtown Uttaradit along with a doughnut shop, and another Thai food court. The New York Restaurant located between Lotus and the bus station serves American, German and Thai food.
Additionally, Uttaradit has several coffee shops, a Pizza Company take-away or delivery restaurant, and several Thai restaurants serving local food. For those who speak little Thai, the New York Restaurant could be convenient as they have English and German-speaking staff.
Drink
Beverage options in Uttaradit are plentiful. As noted above, there are several small coffee shops located throughout the city, many of which also serve desserts.
If you are interested in a "night out on the town" you may want to consider visiting The Crystal Palm disco. Serves a selection of Thai whisky and beer. It is, in effect, a disco with live performances onstage, and attracts a young crowd.
The Treehouse Restaurant and Bar, on the outskirts of the city, is a casual and romantic place to dine and drink. A live band often plays adult contemporary music. Indoor seating is also available.
Sleep
There are two big hotels (Siharaj and Friday, up to 800 baht) and nice smaller one (Taitana, next to the bus station, 420 baht). SunNae Boutique Hotel, Room 500 Baht, Phone 055-832-234, Facebook: Sunee Boutique Hotel