The journey by bus from Chiang Rai to Phitsanulok is scheduled to take 7 hours 20 minutes.
Bus Timetable from Chiang Rai to Phitsanulok
- Click on the Chiang Rai – Phitsanulok link in the timetable below for more information and to buy tickets.
Bus Stop in Chiang Rai
Bus services to Phitsanulok depart from Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 2, Phahonyothin Rd, San Sai, Mueang Chiang Rai District, Chiang Rai 57000.
Arrival in Phitsanulok
Bus services from Chiang Rai terminate at Phitsanulok Bus Terminal 2, Samo Khae, Mueang Phitsanulok District, Phitsanulok 65000.
About Phitsanulok
Located roughly half way between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok receives a limited number of foreign visitors and most of those are passing through on their way from Phitsanulok Railway Station to Sukhothai, which is not connected to the Thai Railway Network. Phitsanulok does, however, get a fairly large number of Thai visitors who are interested in visiting the city for two main reasons.
The principal reason Thai tourists come to Phitsanulok is to visit the city’s large 14th Century Buddhist temple, Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat. Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat is famous for hosting the Phra Phuttha Chinnarat Buddha statue, which is considered to be the most beautiful Buddha statue in Thailand.
Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat in PhitsanulokThe other big attraction of Phitsanulok to Thai tourists is its association with King Naresuan the Great who was born in Phitsanulok in 1555. King Naresuan is a legendary and romantic figure in Thai history because of his many victories against armies from Burma, who were the regional superpower at that time. King Naresuan’s exploits, including a duel with a Burmese Prince on the back of an elephant, have been the subject of a major series of recent films which have reignited interest in the history of King Naresuan.
Phitsanulok has a major shrine to King Naresuan, and the place where he was born, the Chan Palace, has been partially reconstructed. Next to the Chan Palace is the ruins of Wat Wihan Thong where as a boy King Naresuan is likely to have worshipped.