Pitsanuloke or Muang Song Kwai

Ruins and Antiques of Pitsanuloke

Now we start talk about Pitsanuloke first and then we try to show you how it is Amazing in thailand. Pitsanuloke or Muang Song Kwai is many centuries old as can be seen from thai historical ruins.

Some places indicate before historical period, some places indicate built in same period. At all events, these are now the inheritance of Pitsanuloke people and for generation to come.

you can chick to look on link,on your life hand if you have any comment pleast. i hope you enjoy went you came to thailand.

KHAO SAMOH KRAENG

KHAO SAMOH KRAENG
(Samoh Kraeng hill)
Samoh :Kraeng hill is situated in Tambol Wang Thong, Amphoe Wang Thong, Changvad Pitsanuloke, a height of 200 meters, a distance of 3 km. from Amphoe Wang Thong Office and 14 km. from Muang Pitsanuloke.

Khao Samoh Kraeng as appeared in the legend of Muang Pitsanuloke in the Northern History was like so:
‘It was on Thursday 3rd month of 1st waxing moon, Year of the cow, in the morning coinciding with the meal time of the Buddha, that under the same Terminalia tree Pra Upali Thera and Pra Kirimanond entered into Nirvana. This place used to be called PANOM SAMOH but is now called KHAO SAMOH KRAENG where relics of the 2 Arahats were kept.

Khao Samoh Kraeng is clearly visible, and as it is near Muang Pitsunaloke, it appears in many folk tales one of which goes:

‘Once there was an unusual inundation in town. The king’s daughter who was the fiancée of Hanuman , a knight of armour to the king came to the rescue. He flew by air and when he came to Muang Rajnok he broke the mountain top and threw it down to Samoh forest to pluck the flood but it was too late and his fiancée was drowned.

The place where Hanuman threw down the mountain top was called KHAO SAMOH KLON but slightly off the accent to KHAO SAMOH KLAENG.

The surroundings around Khao Samoh Kraeng are of plain

SOMDEJ PRA NARESUAN MAHARAJ SHRINE

SOMDEJ PRA NARESUAN MAHARAJ SHRINE

The Shrine is at Pitsunaloke Pitayakom School which formerly was the site where Wang Chand used to be. The Changvad authorities together with the Thai people all over the country deemed the place honoured by the famous King’s stay,

a donation was subscribed for the building of a Thai pavilion of Tri portico with the statue of Somdej Pra Naresuan the Great in actual human size in seating posture. His hand holds a gold utensil pouring water declaring the independence at Muang Kraeng.

His Majesty the King and her Majesty the Queen officially opened this Shrine on January 25 B.E. 2505. The Changvad therefore holds this day auspicious. Every year there is a ceremony for Somdej Pra Naresuan the Great at his memorial in Pitsanuloke.

The citizens offer their respect and gratitude to the great king.

CHAND PALACE

CHAND PALACE

PraRajaWang Chand situated on the West bank of Nan river, at present occupied by Pitsanuloke Pitayakorn School. The place is North of Changvad. At the time when Somdej Pra Chao BoromWongse Ther Krom Praya Damrong RajaNupab (Prince Damrong) went to Muang Pitsanuloke he stated in the ‘Sasna Somdej’ (Correspondences of Somdej) that:

‘When I went up to Muang Pitsanuloke to inquire the availability of antiques and ruins in that town. The reply was that there was a palace named Wang Chand, the King’s residence of old situated on the West bank.

I went up there and found that the report was true. I ordered the place to be cleared ready for Pra Buddha Chao Luang (Rama V) to have a visit. This Wang Chand, must have been built at the time when Somdej Pra Borom Tri Lokanart resided at Muang Pitsanuloke and also used as Royal House for Somdej Pra Maha Dharma Raja Tiraj and Somdej Pra Naresuan the Great when they ruled over Muang Pitsanuloke…’

Prince Damrong also wrote in the story about Muang Pitsanuloke that ‘There is still now a pond near the King’s court and earth mound as well as a shrine of the Household God where the townfolks paid their homage!.... No other structures are found….’

All these materials are now non-existent, as the palace and others were used with timber under the work of Artisans of Ayudhya period, hence all wood-work crumbled away from the ruin caused by the enemy during their plunders of the town, in year B.E. 2318.

The only existing shrine is that of Somdej Pra Naresuan the Great as a remembrance that he used to stay there.

WAT VIHARA THONG

WAT VIHARA THONG

This is a big temple situated next to Land Office of Changvad Pitsanuloke on the East bank of Nan river, a little distance opposite Wat Pra Sri Ratana MahaTat. At present, it is an abandoned temple. Only the base mound of the Stupa is left and 7 Laterite posts are standing, the place where Pra Attaros was placed.

“This temple formerly housed a Bronze Standing Buddha Image of 18 Sok high. In the reign of Rama III, Prabat Somdej Pra Nang Klao Chao Yoo Hua saw that the Vihara was in ruin,

he then commanded the Authorities to move Pra Attaros Immage to be placed in Wat Sra Kes in Bangkok in Year B.E. 2368. King Rama IV named this Buddha Image as ‘Pra Attaros Sri Sukot TosPol YannaBopitra’. The old Wat Vihara Thong stands in ruin bearing only the temple walls…’

Two Pra Attaros were casted in Pitsanuloke, one was made of Plaster and was placed in Wat Pra Sri Ratana Maha Tat the other one made of bronze was kept at Wat Vihara Thong, at present, is in Wat Sra Kes. Pitsanuloke City Hall.

The principle of creation of Pra Attaros as remarked by the learned men was that of Sukhothai. Wat Vihara Thong, in the past, was therefore revered as one of the outstanding Wats of Muang Pitsanuloke.

WAT CHEDI YOD THONG

WAT CHEDI YOD THONG

This temple was an out-town temple situated outside the City wall of Muang Pitsanuloke Phaya Sua Road, the same road as Wat Aranyig.

Wat CHedi Thong at present, can be seen only the Stupa of budding lotus shape of Sukhothai period. The base is about 9 meters in diameter with a height of 20 meters. Top of the budding lotus was peeled off and it was observed that it was braced by plastering.

It should be noted that the Budding Lotus dome of the Stupa which was the art of Sukhothai period still existed in Changvad Pitsanuloke as the only Stupa. As to Pra Prang (Pra Sri RatanaMahatat) at Wat Pra Sri Ratana Mahatat,

those who knew confirmed that the original was of Budding Lotus type but was reformed to the type in the reign of Somdej Pra Borom Tri LokaNart.

It, therefore, can be ascertained that Wat Chedi Yod Thong must be an old temple built in the same period with Wat Pra Sri Ratana MahaTat which should be conserved for future generations.

WAT ARANYIG

WAT ARANYIG

Wat Aranyig was built in the Sukhothai period seated on the East bank of Nan river out of the city wall about 1 km – where PhayaSua road intersect with Aeka Tosaros Road leads right into the compound. “Wat ArayigVasi monks (a sect of monks who lived in the jungle) during the fame of Pitsanuloke. This temple is a peaceful and quiet temple with small moats around and earth mound in the center for Vihara conforming with the Sukhothai principle. Behind Vihara was a Main Stupa of Lanka style with 4 subsidiary Stupas on 4 corners but at present only their bases can be seen. The main Stupa was worn down to a mound of bricks. The seat was a scaled wood…’

WAT NANG PHAYA

WAT NANG PHAYA

This temple was on the East side of Wat RajBurana and in the same vicinity with Wat Raj Burana. Judging from the architectural design it was surmised that the temple must have been built in the same period of Wat Raj Burana. As remarked in the Book of memorandum by Somdej Pra Chao BoromWongse Ther Chao Fah Krom Praya Narissranuwattiwongse regarding the journey to Pitsanuloke, thus:

‘The big bell is of a diameter of 2 sok (100 cm) at mouth, made of iron of Annam bell. The temple cannot match Wat RajBurana’.

Wat Nang Phaya was famous in her Pra Kruang called ‘Pra NangPhaya’ which were found while digging up a Stupa in B.E. 2444 and lastly in B.E. 2497. The last digging was due to the intention of the Ecclasiastical authority intended to be built as a small pavilion there.

A great number of Pra Kruang were found buried there. Those who had the luck to obtain these Pra Krung for worship rumored about the miraculous power. Thus,

PraKruang Nang Phya was held in high favour by admirers and were very scarce except those replicas which were made in later years.

WAT CHULAMANEE

WAT CHULAMANEE

This temple situates on the Eastern side of River Nan to the South about 5 Km., an ancient temple before Sukhothai period as no indication of the builder can be traced. History had its say that Somdej Pra Borom Trilokanart of KrunkSri Ayudhaya buil the temple, ordained and stayed as monk for 8 month and 15 days in years B.E. 2007. 2,348 followers and subjects were also ordained with him.

In Ratanakosindra period a search was made for Wat Chulamanee mistaken to be in Changvad Pra Nakhon Sri Ayudhaya up till in the reign of Rama V, Somdej Pra Chao LukTher Chao Fah Krom Khun Lopburi Rames went on his official tour up North in B.E. 2451, he found Wat Chulamanee in Pitsanuloke on the evidence of Stone in ascription at Mondop (pavilion) of Pra Buddha Bat which Somdej Pra Narayana the Great erected.

The inscription can be summarize that in B.E. 2221 Somdej Pra Narayana The Great ordered fabric-imprint of Pra Buddha Bat be engraved on the Stone of worship. The Stone is at present in the pavilion.

Creations of high value in art which caused a problem to Historians and Archeologists are a Prang (Stupa) of Khom style with front portico and adjoining portico with Prang. Pedestal width 11 meters length 18 meters built of literate bricks. Front portico is of TriMuk style.

When in perfect condition, a wall was built around the Prang .The Prang axis was of literate bricks. Lower part of Prang was originally lined with sculptures of various designs similar to the design at Prang around Pra Sri Ratana Mahatal of Lopburi.

Aside from the trace of the hall which Somdej Pra Borom Tri Lokanart stayed while in monkhood, the Uoasata (temple) Which he buile, the temple of Luang Paw Patchara and Mondop Pra Buddha Bat which were built in the reign of Somdej PraNarayana the Great with the Stone-inscription that Wat Chula Manee Was in Changvad Pitsanuloke.

WAT RAJBURANA

This temple stands on the East bank of River Nan, South of Wat Pra Sri Ratana MahaTat and was considered as one of the oldest temples.

Somdej Pra BoromWongse Ther Chao Fah Krom Praya Narisaranuwattiwongse went to this temple when he went to Muang Pitsanuloke as appeared in the book of travel to Pitsanuloke viz:
‘Soon as I was behind the Uposatha I was so attracted that I hastily got down from the horse and went into the Uposatha.

The temple door was engraved as 4 leaves design though ordinary but showing good workmanship. The inner walls were murals painted about Ramayana, but not too old’. The main Buddha image was ordinary.

There were a small number of monks. Posts and superstructures were painted with black and red paint, with gold leaves covered fretwork, but of new design must be from renovation. However, walls and superstructure were old.

The elongated apexed gable were plaster. When we went out of Uposatha, Praya Thep asked for a visit to the sermon-hall but to no avail, as the sermon pulpit is in a dilapidated state. Top of the arch was torn down partly.

The pedestal was indifferent to the common style i.e. Singha in connection with Naga. The lower part unrecognized as they were totally broken down. The cornice-like structure with decorative design was not noted but used the design of the pavilion instead. Wat RajBurana has an adjacent boundary to Wat Nang Phaya.

There was no Uposatha at Wat Nang Phaya. The Uposatha of Wat Raj Burana and Vihara Wat Nang Phaya had a marked characteristic in that the head of Naga at the eaves were of a 3-headed Naga of distinctive and delicate creation.

It deemed likely by the name of Wat Raj Burana to be a temple built by the King in the same period when Somdej Pra Borom Tri Lokanart ruled over Muang Pitsanuloke, the renovation of Pra Prang of Wat Pra Sri Ratana Mahatat, the building of Pra Uposatha and Vihara of Wat Chula Manee as his devotion and dedication to Buddhist religion was particularly known in the maintenance of religion mostly in Pitsanuloke while he was staying there for 25 consecutive years.