สายลมที่หวังดี - สุเมธ

Get this widget | Track details | eSnips Social DNA

Geography

Phitsanulok province covers some 10,584.5 sq. km. The riverside provincial capital is 377 km. North of Bangkok. Phitsanulok is situated on the geographical and administrative line uniting the central and northern regions. Phitsanuloke, located in Central Northern Thailand is a modern city. Ideal as a stepping stone for the Northern visitors attractions including Sukothai.
Phitsanulok was the birthplace of King Naresuan the Great of Ayuthaya (reign : 1590 - 1605), and his brother Prince Ekathosarot. Phitsanulok has long been an important center for political and strategic reasons. Phitsanulok was a major center of recruitment when Ayuthaya waged war with Burma, and was the capital of Thailand for 25 years during the 1448-1488 reign of Ayuthaya’s King Boromtrailokanat.
The climate of Phitsanulok is generally hot and humid. It borders with Uttaradit in he North, Pichit in the south, Loei and Phetchabun in the East, Kamphaeng Phet and Sukhothai in the West. Covering an area of 10,815.8 sq.km., the province is divided into 9 Amphoes : Muang , Bang Rakam , Nakhon Thai , Phrom Priram , Wat Bot - BangKrathum , Chat Trakan , Noen MaPrang , Wang Thong

City Attraction

Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat his monastery commonly called by the inhabitants as "Wat Yai" is the most important monastery of Phitsanulok, the home of the famous Phra Buddha Chinnarat. It is located at the foot of Naresuan Bridge on the city side of the river.The monastery was built in the reign of Phra Maha Thamma Racha I (Phraya Lithai) In 1357 A.D. It houses the Phra Buddha Chinnarat regarded as the most beautiful Buddha image in Thailand. It is cast in the attitude of subduing evil. Later, in 1631, King Ekatosarot graciously bestowed some of his gold regalia to be beaten into gold - plate and applied them to the image worth his own hands, creating its most beautiful Buddha image. There are many other beautiful and noteworthy items in the monastery compound. The mother - of - pearl inlaid wooden doors of Vihara are especially splendid, and were built by King Boromkot in 1756 as a dedication to phra Buddha Chinarat. Behind the Vihara, there is a large Prang 36 meters high, with a staircase leading up to the niche containing the Buddha relics. In front of the Prang, there is Phra Attharos, and on the 9 room Vihara slope. There remains only the newly-renovated Buddha image.
Wat Ratchaburana nad Wat Nang Phya Is located on the eastern bank of the Nan river, near Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat to the south. These two monasteries, assumed to be built when Phitsanulok City was ruled by King Boromtrailokanat, have linking compounds. Wat Nang Phya has temple or bot but it is known for the so-called "Phra Nang Phya" votive tablets special fine form of the 3-head nagas decorated on their eaves.
King Naresuan the Great Shrine The shrine is located in the compound of the Phitsanulok Phittayakom school, and depicts the seated king ceremoniously declaring Ayuthaya's independence from Burma. The shrine was constructed on the site of the Channdra Palace where King Naresuan was born in 1555.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

King Mengrai


King Mengrai was born to the ruler of Ngoen Yang (in the region of Chiang Saen in 1239. His mother was a daughter of the Tai Leu ruler of Chiang Hung (Jinghong in Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunnan). The 25th in a line of Lao kings, he ascended to the throne in 1259.A charismatic and powerful leader, he quickly established dominance over the small neighbouring principalities.As his power increased he moved his capital to Chiang Rai, which he founded in 1262, and then to Fang in 1268. In 1276, he formed an alliance with King Ngam Muang, the powerful ruler of Phayao.King Mengrai captured the richer and more powerful city of Haripunchai (Lamphun) in 1281. He was able to do this through a conspiracy with a skilful merchant called Ai Fa, who won the confidence of the city's ruler and became chief minister. Ai Fa then undermined the king's popularity, bringing about the easy downfall of the city.

Mengrai gained further strength from his association with King Ngam Muang of Phayao, who had been tutored as a child with King Ramkamhaeng of Sukhothai. This helped Mengrai forge an alliance with the latter in 1287, securing his southern flank from attack and giving him a free hand to counter threats from the Mongol Chinese empire to the north.
At some time in the 1280's Mengrai moved his capital to Wiang Kum Kam, but the site later proved to be unsuitable. In the late 1280's he made two expeditions to Burma.
From the Mon kingdom of Hamsavati (Pegu) he gained an alliance and the hand of the king's daughter. From the Shan kingdom of Ava-Pagan he gained 500 families of skilled craftsmen.
Mangrai founded his grandest capital, Chiang Mai, in 1296 and began to embellish it with temples. His forces successfully campaigned against the Chinese Mongols in Southern Yunnan, but after 1311 he sent tribute to the Mongols and averted further threats from the north. He died in the middle of the city, reputedly from a lightning strike, in the year 1317.
Mangrai had three sons. The second son, Chai Songkhram, was to continue the dynasty that ruled Lanna until the demise of Phra Mekuti in 1564.

Monument of King Mengrai the Great This Monument is situated at the starting point of the road to Mae Chan, Chiang Saen and Mae Sai.

Posted by at
Labels:

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)