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Petrozavodsk

Petrozavodsk (Петрозаво́дск; Karelian, Vepsian and Finnish: Petroskoi) is the capital city of Karelia with a population just above 263,000.

Understand
On September 11, 1703, Prince Menshikov founded Petrovskaya Sloboda ("Petrine Settlement") at the behest of Tsar Peter the Great, who needed a new iron foundry to manufacture cannons and anchors for the Baltic Fleet at the time of the Great Northern War (1700–1721). At first the foundry used the name Shuysky zavod (literally, "factory at the Shuya River"), but a decade later it became Petrovsky zavod ("Petrine factory"), after the reigning monarch.

By 1717, Petrovskaya Sloboda had grown into the largest settlement in Karelia, with about 3,500 inhabitants, a timber fort, a covered market, and miniature palaces of the Tsar and Menshikov. The town's best-known landmark became the wooden church of Saints Peter and Paul, rebuilt in 1772 and renovated in 1789. The church retained its original iconostasis until it was destroyed by fire on October 30, 1924.

After Peter's death, Petrovskaya Sloboda became depopulated and the factory declined. It closed down in 1734, but revived in 1773 when Catherine the Great established a new iron foundry upstream the Lososinka River. Designed to provide cannons for the ongoing Russo-Turkish Wars, the foundry was named Alexandrovsky, after Alexander Nevsky, who was considered a patron saint of the region.

During Catherine's municipal reform of 1777, Petrovskaya Sloboda was incorporated as a town, whereupon its name was changed to Petrozavodsk. A new Neoclassical city center was then built, focused on the newly planned Round Square. In 1784 Petrozavodsk was large enough to become Karelia's administrative center.

The factory was modernized and expanded under supervision of Charles Gascoigne in 1787–96. Local pundits claim that the first railway in the world (чугунный колесопровод) was inaugurated for industrial uses of the Alexandrovsky foundry in 1788.

After the Finnish civil war of 1918 and after the Great Depression of 1929, there was a significant influx of Finns, especially in the early 1930s also of Finns from North America. The town more than doubled, from 20,000 to 50,000, during this time. The Finns had a significant role in the development of the region, but the Stalinist purges hit hard on the Finns.

Petrozavodsk was occupied by Finland during World War II (1941–1944). In the 1950s, many Ingrians moved in. At the dissolution of the Soviet Union, 15,000 Finns lived in the town. Finnish connections with the town were retained, with Finnish economic contributions to education and the press, and many Finnish tourists until the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

By train
The city is easily reached by RZD train from Saint Petersburg. There are both day and night trains leaving from Ladozhsky station, a second class sleeper ticket will set you back about ₽1100. The Lastochka Premium train takes just under five hours while most other trains have a travel time of 7-8 hours. Moscow is 16 hours away on a over-night service, trains depart from the Leningradsky station with second class tickets costing from ₽2200. All trains bound for Murmansk makes stop-overs here so there are long-distance connections with Kaliningrad (44 hr), Kyiv (41 hr), Minsk (24 hr) and seasonal trains from Black Sea resorts as Sochi (55 hr) which serves mostly tourists travelling home. Slow regional trains also connects with various smaller cities in Karelia such as Kostomuksha (13 hr) and Suoyarvi (4 hr). (Петрозаводск-Пасс) is located on ul. Gagarina, just west of the city centre.

By bus

There are bus services from Saint Petersburg daily with Avokzal.

International connection from Helsinki with Petrozavodsk transport and Inkeriline. There is also a bus service from Tampere. A one-way ticket costs €40, return €75. Savonlinja has services from Joensuu for as cheap as €13. PTZ-Trans and Karelavtotrans offer services from Joensuu also.

By car
Petrozavodsk is along the highway, also known as Kola Highway which links Saint Petersburg and Murmansk. The road is mostly in good condition but expect long driving distances and few gas stations along the way. From Norway, Sweden or Finland you might want to come along the Blue Highway (Russian: Голубая дорога), a tourist route along ancient waterways. In Russia it comes in via Sortavala (Со́ртавала) at the north end of Ladoga.

Get around
The town has a moderate size. Center is easily walkable. A taxi anywhere in town costs ₽100 or less. Buses run frequently along the major routes.

The railway station is at the southern end of Leninsky Prospekt, which cuts through the center of town all the way to the embankment on Lake Onego. It is about a 30-minute walk from the station to the lake.

See

 * All the neoclassical architecture
 * The lake, the shore, and things nearby
 * Visit the main theatre. The architecture is gorgeous and the square along with a nearby park offer great walking opportunities

Museums and galleries

There are three main museums in the city: the National Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Kizhi Petrozavodsk Museum.

Eat
Dine out. Check out one of several local restaurants. Many trend foreign but some still serve local cuisine. Karelian dining often features fish cooked whole in its own soup.

Consulates

 * 🇫🇮 Finland
 * 🇸🇪 Sweden

title: Petrozavodsk


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Petrusville

Petrusville is a town in the Northern Cape area of South Africa.

Get in
Petrusville is a two and a half hour drive from Kimberley along the R48.

See

 * Van der Kloof Dam, the second largest dam on the Orange River with the highest dam wall (108 m) in South Africa is located about 15km outside the town.

Do

 * Go for a 4x4 trail in the mountains or hike in a nearby canyon.

Buy

 * Gobble and Go: This unlikely-named and once a thriving transport cafe is the only fast-food remaining in Petrusville. More choice may be found by making the short detour to Vanderkloof.
 * Buzzzzy Beez: Art and Crafts shop located just off the main road in Fourie Street. (There will be a sign board, so look out for directions.) Tea or coffee and soft drinks as well as old fashioned ginger beer or wheat beer (koring bier) will be served, ice cold. Gifts galore, antiques, crafts and art. Started by very busy ladies of the vicinity, hence the name Buzzzzy Beez.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Petrusville


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Pettavaithalai

Pettavaithalai (Tamil: பெட்டவாய்த்தலை) is in the Central Tamil Nadu region of India. It is located between Kulithalai and Tiruchirappalli. The town is an important pilgrimage location. It is located along the Cauvery river that connects to the Uyyakondan canal which is the major irrigation canal for the fertile lands in Trichy district. Pettavaithalai belongs to Srirangam Assembly Constituency in Tiruchirappalli District of Tamil Nadu State in India.

One of the EID parry sugar factories is located in this small town. This is one of the very few factories that has a captive power plant.

This town is also known for its "korai mat" – the mat spun using the korai grass. This is the main village industry here.

Get in
There are several trains per day from nearby Tiruchirappalli, with a journey time of around 45 minutes.

See

 * Karumbai Amman Temple
 * Madhyarjuneswaraswamy (Lord Shiva) temple at Devasthanam.

title: Pettavaithalai


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Pevek

Pevek (Russian: Певек) is a town in Chukotka in the extreme northeast of the country and the northernmost town in Russia.

Understand
Once an important naval base and port in the Arctic, this town has lost more than half of its population since the fall of Soviet Union in 1991. There are today just 4,700 residents left although the future looks a little brighter with the opening of the Northern Sea Route.

Get in
There is a small, 18 kilometers northeast of Pevek with regular flights by ChukotAVIA from Anadyr and Bilibino and Utair from Moscow-Vnukovo. The usual schedule is two to three flights per month during winter season, slightly more in summer.

Overland travel is limited to an ice road from Bilibino that can be traversed by 4x4 vehicles. Travelling in convoys is strongly recommended.

Do
Pevek is surrounded by tundra and hills rising over 500 m above sea level, which offer plenty of hiking opportunities in summer.

title: Pevek


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Pewsey

Pewsey is a large village in the county of Wiltshire, England. It is approximately 130km (80 miles) west of London.

By train
The easiest way to get to Pewsey is by train. is on the Great Western main line. A one-way ticket from London Paddington station will cost approximately £27. The journey takes just over 1 hour.

By car
Pewsey is close to the M4 Motorway and A303 making it relatively easy for driving to London, the West Country and Wales.

Do
Visit during the carnival activities every September (search for Pewsey Carnival for this year's itinerary). The highlights are a four-legged wine race, where teams of three wearing fancy dress race around the village to drink wine, a "wheel-beer-o" race where teams have spent the summer decorating a wheelbarrow and race to each pub for one drink before running through the river to a finish line, and the Carnival finale where thousands of people line the streets for an annual procession.

title: Pewsey


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Pezinok

Pezinok is a city in Bratislava region. Pezinok is a central part of the Small Carpathian Wine Route, a wine-producing region stretching between Bratislava and Trnava. The city has kept and renovated many of the historical buildings, including the original burger's houses, which form a picturesque historic centre of the town, along with a park surrounding the castle dating to the 13th century.

Understand
Pezinok (Hungarian: Bazin; German: Bösing) is a city in western Slovakia, about 20 km north-east from Bratislava, and a centre of the Small Carpathian Wine Route. It started out as a mining settlement, as gold and antimony were found in the area, but quickly developed into a wine-making town. Pezinok still produces quality wine and the slopes of Small Carpathians it sits under are covered with vineyards. Wine-making is celebrated during several festivals and events an integral part of local life.

More information can be found at the city's website, available in English and German.

Get in
Pezinok is well-connected by the road network to Bratislava, Trnava and Senec, so getting in by car is usually the most convenient. There is also public transport in form of buses that connects it with these three cities, and villages along the route. Buses from Bratislava leave every 15 minutes in the rush hour and every hour in the evenings. Trains operate between Bratislava and Trnava as well, and most stop in Pezinok along the way. However, when going by the train from Bratislava/Trnava, make sure your train stops in Pezinok, as a few express trains don't. The last train/bus from Bratislava leaves shortly before 23:00 and doesn't resume until about 05:00.

Get around
As the city centre is small, walking is probably the most efficient way of getting around Pezinok, though a car will come in handy if you are visiting the more remote residential parts. There is plenty of parking available in and around the city centre.

See
The city has a well-preserved historic centre, with several buildings worth seeing:

 * Old City Hall — built in the 17th century when Pezinok became a free royal town, and rebuilt after a fire in the 19th century in classicist style. It has been renovated, and houses the City Museum, a restaurant, several cafes and shops selling traditional crafts.
 * The Castle — parts of the castle date back to the 13th century, but it has largely been rebuilt as well. It is owned by the Slovak Vintner association and houses a restaurant and a hotel (yes, you can sleep in the castle). Notable is also the surrounding park, built in the 19th century, that features a variety of rare trees and a pond that suring summer has nestling ducks.
 * Churches - — there are 5 churches in Pezinok, but the 4 in the city centre are especially worth seeing for the architecture and artwork. Virgin Mary Parish Church (easily located by its white colour) dates to the 14th century and features a variety of artwork inside. The Dolny Kostol (Lower Church) dates back to 17th century and has a beautiful altar and a unique wooden organ. Similarly, Capuchin church from the 18th century has an interesting painted altar. Lutheran Church, also from the 18th century, was the first building in the city to be constructed in the classicist style, but has some artwork dating to a later date as well as paintings by Jan Kupecky.
 * Small Carpathian Museum — this small museum provides a unique exhibitions especially related to the city's history as a winter town.
 * City Fortifications — they formed a defensive system for the town, but most of them are now in the city centre. The remains can most easily be seen just opposite the Castle Park.
 * Schaubmar's Mill — apart from being a well-preserved historic building, it maintains functioning milling equipment, the mill also houses an exhibition of naive paintings.

Do

 * Wine-tasting — the opportunities are numerous all year round, however there are several events held during the year that allow access to the wine cellars in the entire region, including Wine Market in April and the Day of Open Cellars in November.
 * Vinobranie — this is an important local festival to celebrate the grape harvest, usually taking place at the end of September/beginning of October. It is a street festival and the city centre is covered by stalls selling a variety of food and drink (especially wine and young wine!), with some roller-coasters, and concerns thrown in. Handicrafts are sold, and on the last day of the festival, Sunday, there is a march across town of people dressed in traditional and historic clothing.
 * Hiking — the surrounding hills of Small Carpathians form a part of a protected natural reserve and there is a number of well-marked hiking trails, including a number of specially marked trails that focus on the history of the town and region and lead through various points of interest (notably Bansky chodnik (Mining Trail) which features the city's mining history and the Vinohradnicky chodnik (Vineyard Trail) which leads largely through the vineyards and shows the hostory and the present of the wine-making in Pezinok).
 * Horse-riding/buggy riding — there are big stables called 'Areal Rozalka' on the outskirts of the town, where it is possible to try out horse-riding, and which host several international competitions in riding.
 * Skiing — in winter, the skiing centre Baba in the mountains above the town (accessible by car or bus) opens and offers good opportunities for various winter sports like downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing and sledging.

Buy
There are shops in the city centre, but the best shopping is in the two bigger malls - 'Plus' in the city centre, and 'Molo', which is on the outskirts, on the road to Bratislava.

 * Traditional handicrafts — Pezinok is especially famous for its ceramics.
 * Wine — there are shops and open cellars where you can buy the locally produced wine, some of the best in Slovakia.

Eat
Restaurants

Budget and snacks

Drink

 * Wineries — the wine production is widespread in the region and there are many cellars that's offer degustation and purchase of local wines.
 * Wineries — the wine production is widespread in the region and there are many cellars that's offer degustation and purchase of local wines.

Connect
The city telephone extension is (0)33.

The information centre can be found at Holubyho 42 and can be contacted by phone at 6+421 33 640 69 89. It is open Jan-Aug: M-F 09:00 to 18:00 and Sa 09:00-12:00, and Sep-Dec: M-F 09:00-17:00 and Sa 09:00-12:00.

Go next

 * Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia is 20 km away.
 * Pezinska Baba — ski area in the Small Carpathians just above Pezinok offers varioeus opportunities for winter sports in winter and a few good hikes (including all day hike down from Baba back to Pezinok) in summer. You can either drive or take a bus from the city centre.
 * Velka Homola — a sightseeing wooden tower built on a hill featuring beautiful views in all directions. In good weather, it is possible to see all the way to Austria and Czech Republic, as well as admire the view of the Small Carpathians and the cities below. To get there take a bus from the city centre to Zochova Chata (or drive), about 15 km away, and continue up the red-marked hiking trail. It takes about an hour to get there from the bus stop, going steadily uphill, and about 45 min to get back when going down.
 * Driny Cave— is the only cave accessible to the public in western Slovakia. It is a beautiful karst cave. It is located outside the village of Smolenice, and is most easily reached by the car, with the parking spot about 1 km from the cave (a short but relatively steep hike from there to the entrance). It is also possible to take the bus to Smolenice, if you don't mind a much longer walk.

 * Hrad Červený Kameň (Red Stone Castle) — one of the best preserved castles in Slovakia, with original furniture and numerous historic items. The castle dates back to 13th century, and was renovated in the 18th century in early baroque style. The interiors and exteriors of the castle are well maintained and there are tours on offer in several languages. By car, head to Častá and follow the asphalt road to the castle's parking lot, the castle is about 15 km from Pezinok. It is possible to go by bus. Directly, if the bus stops there, get out at 'Častá,Červený Kameň' and stroll across the meadow to the castle entrance. Indirectly (if no bus is going in the direction), you can get out in Častá, at the bus stop 'Základina'. From there it is about 2 km walk up the asphalt road.
 * Senec — a city to the south of Pezinok (about 10 km). There are several huge lakes ('Sunny Lakes') that are very popular for swimming and water sports in the summer (there is a small entrance fee). You can drive or take a bus to Senec.
 * Modra — a smaller city about 10 km from Pezinok, famous for its traditional ceramics production.

title: Pezinok


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Pfafftown

Pfafftown is a city in North Carolina. In 2020, Pfafftown had a population of 12,000.

By plane
Piedmont Triad International Airport, is about a 40 minute drive (30 miles) east of Pfafftown between Winston-Salem and Greensboro.

By train
An Amtrak station with shuttle service to nearby Winston-Salem is located in Greensboro.

By car
Pfafftown is easily accessible by car via Interstate 40, Interstate 77, Interstate 85, U.S. Highway 421 and U.S. Highway 52 (Future Interstate 73/74).

Get around
There is no bus or taxi service within Pfafftown. Transportation by private car is the primary way to get around Pfafftown.

title: Pfafftown


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Palatinate

Pfalz is a region in Rhineland-Palatinate.

Cities

 * — in the Südliche Weinstraße near Alsace (France)
 * — offers good opportunities for leisure, sports and shopping, with a lively inner city. Its famous football-team also attracts football-fans from all over.
 * — With the biggest chemical factory in the world, Ludwigshafen is no health spa.
 * — situated in the heart of the Palatinate region, including a number of vineyards, castles and the chance to taste some really good wine.
 * — largest romanesque Cathedral in the world, UNESCO World Heritage site since 1980. In Speyer you also find the Historical Museum and the Museum of Technology, both worth a visit.
 * — With the biggest chemical factory in the world, Ludwigshafen is no health spa.
 * — situated in the heart of the Palatinate region, including a number of vineyards, castles and the chance to taste some really good wine.
 * — largest romanesque Cathedral in the world, UNESCO World Heritage site since 1980. In Speyer you also find the Historical Museum and the Museum of Technology, both worth a visit.
 * — largest romanesque Cathedral in the world, UNESCO World Heritage site since 1980. In Speyer you also find the Historical Museum and the Museum of Technology, both worth a visit.

See
Pfaelzer Wald and Deutsche Weinstraße

title: Palatinate


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Pfäffikon

Pfäffikon SZ is a small city in Central Switzerland in the greater Zürich metropolitan area, between the Lake of Zurich and the Obersee. Pfäffikon is home to about 7,000 people and is the third biggest city in the canton Schwyz. The former farmer village has turned into a mini financial center due to is favourable location on the border between Northeastern and Central Switzerland and its liberal tax regime. International headquarters have been established big industrial and financial companies have moved to the city. During the week, the small city is bustling with business travellers from multinational companies while during the weekend it is very calm. This town in canton Schwyz should not be confused with Pfäffikon ZH which is in the canton of Zurich.

Get in
Since Pfäffikon is within the Zürich metropolitan area, it is served by its suburban trains (Zürich S-Bahn). The S2, S5 and S8 lines all offer 2 trains per hour to Zürich Hbf, of which the S2 is the fastest (35 min), followed by S8 (42 min) and S5 (45 min). S2 and S8 use the same route to Zürich Hbf; however, S2 makes limited stops along the line and S8 all stops. It is also possible to use the S2 to get to Zürich Airport (50-55 min). All-zone day and monthly cards are fully valid (see for more information). Don't go to Pfäffikon ZH by mistake!

Also, IR-trains and IC-trains to Chur and Basel have hourly stops.

If you prefer the car then the Autobahn A3 to Chur/Zurich brings you to Pfäffikon. Keep in mind the loads of commuters so in the morning and evening rush hour it might take 15-20 minutes more as the main road (Churerstrasse) is utilized beyond its capacity. There is also the entry/exit Schindellegi on the A3 but entry is only in the direction to Chur and exit in direction to Zurich (not both ways!)

Get around
Pfäffikon is a town so the best options are by foot or bicycle. There are bus lines but it's not really necessary if you don't live here. Pfäffikon is part of the regional public traffic system (ZVV) so a valid ZVV ticket (or SBB ticket in case of intra-Swiss travel) is sufficient. Orientation is easy as Churerstrasse is the main divider of the town. It starts in the industrial area close to the Autobahn and followed by the Seedamm Center next to Autobahn entry/exit of Pfäffikon. The train station is direct in the center and when you follow the lakeshore to west you fast end in the neighbouring town of Freienbach.

Buy
The Seedamm Center is one of the biggest shopping centres in Switzerland and offers a big variety of shops. It has all the usual shops you can find anywhere else in Switzerland (Migros, Manor etc.) In the older centre, shops close rather early and cater for the people living in that area

Eat
Options are limited when you are looking for special foreign cuisines. Some gems can be found in the region and are worth a visit.

Bakeries
There are two bakeries in town, more or less at the junction of the main road, Churerstrasse, and Bahnhofstrasse.

 * Bakery Wust on Bahnhofstrasse
 * Bakery Gau on Schindellegistrasse. Larger than Bakery Wust, and you can sit down for a coffee.

Budget

 * Pizzeria da Franco on Churerstrasse
 * Trattoria-Pizzeria Höfe if not for the food, certainly for the charming Swiss hospitality offered by the waiting staff.
 * Restaurant Roessli on Schindelligstrasse (above Bakery Gau) - good value local fare and friendly staff.

Sleep
Zurich and Rapperswil offer a broader variety of hotels because the hotel selection is limited

Go next

 * Picturesque Rapperswil is on the other side of the Seedamm (45 min by foot or 5 min by train)
 * Zurich is 25 min away
 * Popular ski resorts in Graubünden are 45-75 minutes by car or train

title: Pfäffikon


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Pflugerville

Pflugerville is a suburb of Austin, Texas.

title: Pflugerville


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Pforzheim

Pforzheim is known as the "Gateway to Black Forest" or "Goldstadt" (Gold town) for its jewellery and watch-making industries. It is one of the main cities in Baden-Württemberg and lies on the north edge of the Black Forest between Karlsruhe and Stuttgart. Pforzheim is a town of 126,000 inhabitants (2021). It is a beautiful city, but it does not have many places to visit. It is a good place to go exploring if you have a sense of adventure. Pforzheim was largely destroyed during World War II, especially by an air strike by the Royal Air Force on 23 February 1945. Therefore, only few historic buildings exist. Besides its functional charm of a quickly rebuilt city, being located at the confluence of three rivers (Nagold, Würm and Enz) provides Pforzheim with green areas breaking the concrete architecture.

By plane
The closest major airport is Stuttgart. Also the tourist airport Baden-Baden/Karlsruhe (Baden Airpark) is close by.

By car
The town is easily accessible from the A8 between Karlsruhe and Stuttgart and is on the B294 from Bretten, the B463 from Calw and the B10 from Vaihingen an der Enz.

By bus
The Verkehrsverbund Pforzheim-Enzkreis provides services around the region. Pforzheim public transport belongs to the larger Karlsruhe area (KVV).

Public transport
The Verkehrsverbund Pforzheim-Enzkreis provides services around the region.

E-scooter
The scooter provider Lime provides services in Pforzheim as well. You need the app of the provider to locate the scooters.

Buy
Pforzheim is the gold town with many jewelry and watch shops.

Eat
Pforzheim has a variety of restaurants. There are restaurants with oriental food and restaurants with food from the Pforzheim area. One of the traditional meals is Spaezle. It is a type of egg noodle, made by hand. Normally it is eaten with some type of cheese sauce.

Go next

 * Bertha Benz Memorial Route - Follow the tracks of the world's first automobile journey back in 1888 (Mannheim - Pforzheim - Mannheim)
 * Bretten
 * Kloster Maulbronn, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 19 km north (22 minutes by local train)
 * Black Forest

title: Pforzheim


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Pfullendorf

Pfullendorf is a small historic city in the district of Sigmaringen in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

By plane
Pfullendorf doesn't have any major international airport. However, You can reach Pfullendorf by plane through the nearest International airports in Stuttgart or Munich with a combination of either train or car.

Connect

 * Police: 110
 * Fire and Ambulance: 112

Go next

 * Stuttgart
 * Lake Constance
 * Municipalities located on Lake Constance
 * Bregenz
 * Friedrichshafen
 * Konstanz
 * Ueberlingen
 * Black Forest
 * Freiburg

title: Pfullendorf


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Phalaborwa

Phalaborwa is a town in the Mopani district of the Limpopo province in South Africa.

Get in
You can fly from Johannesburg directly into Phalaborwa, which has one of the nicest small airports around.

An attractive alternative is taking Route 71 from Polokwane through stunning Magoebaskloof and Tzaneen.

title: Phalaborwa


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Phang Nga

Phang Nga (พังงา) is a town on the Northern Andaman Coast in Thailand. It is the provincial capital of Phang Nga Province.

Understand
Phang Nga is a coastal province on the Andaman Sea with scenic forests and islands. The province offers superb natural beauty both onshore and underwater. Phang Nga is also the name of the city that serves as the provincial capital.

History
Phang Nga was originally inhabited by small communities and named Kraphu-nga. During the reign of King Rama II, nearby areas (including Thalung, now known as Phuket) were occupied by the Burmese and so many people fled to Kraphu-nga. In 1824, Siamese troops defeated the Burmese and the invaders were expelled. King Rama III renamed the area Phang Nga and in 1933 the town was expanded to be a province.

People
Phang Nga is a mix of Buddhists, Thai-Chinese, Muslims and even sea gypsies. The majority of the rural population is Muslim. Phang Nga, however, is free of religious tension and the populace live in peace and harmony. Outside of the provincial town, the rural folk speak with a thick Southern dialect which is difficult for even other Thais to understand.

Given its ethnic mix, Phang Nga is always celebrating something, be it part of Thai Buddhist, Thai-Chinese or Thai-Islamic tradition.

On the small island of Ko Surin is a community of Moken sea gypsies who still live their traditional lives as seafaring people. These sea gypsies speak Yawi dialect and are welcoming to tourists. However, just as is the case of the long-necked Karen in Mae Hong Son, some Moken complain that their village has come to resemble a human zoo with hoards of tourists walking around gawking at the villagers. Nevertheless, there are organised tours from Phang Nga which go there.

By car

 * First route: From Bangkok, take Hwy 4, passing the provinces of Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, and Ranong, then drive straight to Phang Nga town. It is 788 km from Bangkok.  The trip takes around 12 hours.
 * Second route: From Bangkok, take Hwy 4 to Chumphon, from there, take Hwy 41 to Amphoe Tha Chang, then go straight to an intersection where a right turn is made to Hwy 401, keep driving to Amphoe Ban Ta Khun for about 50 km, and then take Hwy 415 for 30 km, take a right turn to Phang Nga town.
 * Visitors travelling from Phuket should use Hwy 402, passing the Sarasin Bridge to Ban Khok Kloi, take a right turn to Amphoe Takua Thung. It is 87 km from Phuket.  The journey takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes.

By plane
There is no airport here. The closest are in Phuket, Krabi, or Surat Thani.

From Krabi airport you do not have to go to the Krabi bus station to get a bus to Phang Nga, as the buses coming from the South pass by the airport on the highway. To catch a bus walk out to the highway (100m), cross over and go about 50m to the right where you will see a yellow shelter on the left side of the road. In May 2015 a bus (big and air conditioned) to the Phang Nga bus station cost 100 baht and passed by at 9:30am after waiting for less than half an hour. Make sure you hail down the bus. Frequency and times unfortunately unknown, so if this sounds too uncertain for you, make your way to the Krabi bus station and get a bus from there (price to Krabi bus station displayed inside the airport was 80 baht).

Thai Airways operates Bangkok-Phuket flights daily. From Phuket, take a bus or rent a car to Phang Nga, about 58 km. For more information, call Thai Airways tel: 1566 or +66 2 2800060, +66 2 6282000 or Phuket office at tel. +66 76 360444.

Bangkok Airways has daily flights connecting Phuket Airport with Pattaya and Ko Samui. For more information, contact their Bangkok office at Tel. +66 2 2655678. Reservations can be made at Tel. +66 2 2655555 or Phuket office Tel. +66 76 225033, +66 76 225034.

Air Asia also offers several daily flights connecting Bangkok and Phuket airport. Call +66 2 5159999 or Phuket office at Tel. +66 76 351428, +66 76 369182 for reservations.

By train
There is no train station here. The nearest train station is Phun Phin, near Surat Thani.

The State Railways of Thailand operates daily train services between Bangkok and Surat Thani. Note that the sleeper trains arrive before dawn. A trip to Phang Nga can be made by getting off at the Surat Thani Railway Station and then taking a bus for another two hours. For more information, call Bangkok's Hualamphong Railway Station tel. 1690, +66 2 2237010, +66 2 2237020.

By bus
Buses from Phuket, Takua Pa and Krabi pass through Phang Nga. During the day there are many buses from the bus station to Phuket, Krabi, Takua Pa, and Surat Thani. In the evening, however, there are few buses, but if you're lucky you might catch a bus on the Phuket-Krabi road. (4 km from the city) The phone number of the bus station is +66 76 412014.

There are daily bus services from Bangkok to Phang Nga. Air-conditioned buses, 3 types, depart from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal at the following times:

 * VIP Bus: 18:30
 * Standard 1 Bus: 19:30
 * Standard 2 Bus: 06:30 and 16:00

Travel time is ~12 hours. For more information, call the Southern Bus Terminal at +66 2 4351199200 or the Phang Nga Bus Terminal at Tel: +66 76 412300 or +66 76 412 014.

At the bus station itself, there is a friendly travel agent who will give you a map of the city and area.

By boat
The pier, Tha Dan, is 9 km south of the town.

By taxi
From Phuket there are a variety of taxi and private car-hire services. However, there is a stranglehold on many of these agencies through local "associations" that demand high prices and disallow competition. It is a common complaint that passengers are made to stop at local gem and/or travel agencies allowing the drivers to collect a commission. To avoid this, demand the meter to be turned on or agree to price ahead of time, with no stops. Try to use licensed and certified agencies.

Get around
The most popular form of transport in Phang Nga is the songthaew. To get to and from other districts, there is a public, non-air-conditioned bus service or even cars for rent. For a day out on the islands, there are long-tailed boats for hire.

You can use the songthaews for travel in the city. You can also rent a motorbike at M.T. Tour (Muang Thong Hotel: from the bus station, go to the exit, turn right at the main road, walk 100 m and it's on your left). If you have your own car or motorbike already, you still can go to MT Tour (+66 89 289 2566) to get a free detailed map of the area. In general, everything (tours, accommodation, food) in Phang Nga is cheaper than Phuket. It's not possible to rent a car in Phang Nga, but you can in Khao Lak, Krabi and Phuket.

See

 * Wat Suwannakhuha (วัดสุวรรณคูหา) It is of historical and archaeological importance. Within the boundary of the temple is a mountain with numerous caves out of which one is also used as a temple and houses various manners of Buddha images. There are also royal monogram inscriptions on the walls of the cave.
 * Ko Yao (เกาะยาว) covers an area of 137 km2. The majority of the population are Muslim. The island is made up of two large islands, Ko Yao Noi and Ko Yao Yai.
 * Hat Khao Lak (ชายทะเลเขาหลัก), from Takua Pa, is a long beach along the Andaman Sea set beneath Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park, parallel to the coast.
 * Wat Rat Uppatham or Wat Bang Riang (วัดราษฎร์อุปถัมภ์ หรือ วัดบางเหรียง) A temple on Khao Lan hill containing several structures including an elaborate bell-shaped pagoda called Chedi Phutthathambanlue. The hilltop pagoda overlooks surrounding mountains and hills as well as a huge Buddha image and a Guan-yin Chinese Goddess statue.
 * Kainui Mountain (เขาไข่นุ้ย) A mountain that has cool weather and is surrounded by the sea of mist all year round. In good weather, the Andaman Sea is visible from the summit.
 * Ko Phra Thong (เกาะพระทอง), A large island northwest of Phang Nga. The island has many beaches. There is a large fresh water reservoir on the island.
 * Ko Panyi a Muslim fishing village on stilts.
 * Ko Panyi a Muslim fishing village on stilts.

Festivals

 * Watermelon Day (งานวันแตงโม) is organized every year. There is plenty of watermelon on offer and a food and beauty contest.
 * Free The Turtles Fair (ประเพณีปล่อยเต่า) annually at Thai Muang Beach. The celebration takes place for seven days. During the festival baby turtles raised by the Fisheries Department are released into the sea at Thai Mueang Beach.
 * Songkran Festival (งานประเพณีสงกรานต์) April merit making ceremonies, a water-pouring ceremony to pay respect to monks and elderly people, and many shows performed by local students.
 * The Ma Jor Poh Statue Procession (งานแห่เทพเจ้าศาลเจ้าแม่ม่าจ้อโป๋) It's a yearly ceremony. The statue of Ma Jor Poh is carried on an ancient Chinese carriage around the town along with the weapons of various sacred spirits from the Chinese temple with traditional music played on Chinese musical instruments.
 * The Chao Ley (sea gypsy) Boat Floating Festival (งานประเพณีลอยเรือ) It's a ceremony to celebrate the ancestor's spirits (Nia An Lo Pong). Morgan sea gypsies of all kinds join in this ceremony. The ceremony includes spirit dwelling, ancestor worshipping, fortune telling, music performances, dances, and "Kabang" floating which is believed to take away all sickness and bad luck from their families and community.
 * The worshiping ceremony of Narayana and his followers (งานบวงสรวงเทวรูปพระนารายณ์และบริวาร) There are also various shops, several forms of entertainment, and activities performed by students.
 * Vegetarian Festival (ประเพณีถือศีลกินผัก) The Phang Nga Vegetarian Festival: Similar to the well-known vegetarian festival in Phuket and Trang, this festival is held from the first through the ninth nights of the ninth Chinese lunar month.
 * Amazing Phang Nga Festival: High Season Opening in Phang Nga (งานเปิดโลกมหัศจรรย์แดนสวรรค์เมืองพังงา) There is an opening and special events ceremony in Khao Lak. The ceremony features entertainment, cultural shows, an exhibition of tourist attractions, water sports and local sport competitions, local products shops, and seafood from many resorts in Khao Lak.

Do
Phang Nga has a beautiful landscape with many waterfalls, mountains, islands, rivers and hot springs. You can get a good map at M.T. Tour. Phang Nga has also special temples, each one with different characteristics. Attractions near the city are: The elephant mountain (temple), Sanong Manora waterfall, Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Park. Further away are: Namtok Lamru a 5-tiered waterfall, Khao Lak (beaches), Ko Similan National Park (diving & snorkelling), Ko Surin National Park (diving & snorkelling). There are also jungle tours with rafting and temple tours.

Another great thing to do is community-based tourism. Communities around Phang Pga Province are opening up their villages to one day tours and overnight home stays. They usually come at a base price and list everything that will be included in the tour from batik painting to tin mining.

Buy
Phang Nga city is not a tourist destination. There are many banks and ATMs in the city, but there are no currency exchange booths. If you have cash, change it before 15:30 on weekdays. There is a Tesco Lotus for all your imported and domestic grocery needs, and a number of pharmacies, including a Boots.

Eat
During the day you can get cheap and delicious meals at the market or at the restaurant in the Muang Thong Hotel. In this hotel it's also possible to have breakfast of eggs, toast, butter & jam. There is a vegetarian restaurant on the main road if you walk south from the bus station. At night it is worth trying the restaurants on the riverside. Tuesdays and Thursdays there is a night market 500 m south of the bus station on the main road. Many guidebooks recommend Duang as a good place to eat. However, as a tourist you will probably pay more than Thais, and Malaysians may have to pay even more than other tourists.

Sleep
There are several hotels throughout the city, although they are all of relatively low standard and rather old. If you plan to see Phang Nga Bay and you want to stay overnight only for that reason you might want to reconsider your choice. In that case it might be better to stay in Phuket, Khao Lak or Krabi and take one of the frequent and inexpensive buses to Phang Nga early in the morning. You will likely get better quality of accommodation at comparable prices that way.

Budget
All of the budget hotels are within 400 m of the bus station so it won't be hard to walk to them. Exit the bus station and turn right.

Other budget options are Thaweesuk (150 baht), and Lak Muang.

Go next
Phang Nga Bay is famous for its gravity-defying limestone formations. You can go on a tour with Sayan (in the bus station) or MT Tour (in the Muang Thong hotel, 100 m from the bus station). Half-day tours with transfer cost 800 baht as of May 2015 at either operator, bargaining seemed pretty much impossible, you may have better luck trying to get an additional cave added or adjust the itinerary to fit your needs. Full-day tours 1100 baht.

There are frequent buses to Phuket from the bus station, minivans take you to the Phuket Town bus station (old bus station) for 100 baht, while the big buses only go to the new bus station (bus station 2) outside of Phuket Town for 90 baht (May 2015)

title: Phang Nga


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Ao Phang Nga National Park

Ao Phang Nga National Park is known for its limestone rock formations. It has more than 40 islands with beautiful cliffs, caves and the largest remaining mangrove forests in Thailand.

Understand
Phang Nga Bay is one of the most beautiful bays of Thailand. It is famous for its gravity-defying limestone formations. Most travellers visit Ko Khao Phing Kan, that since 1974, when it was featured in the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun, has been popularly called James Bond Island (see also James Bond tourism). In front of it is Ko Tapu, probably the most characteristic islet of the bay and often seen on tourist brochures.

Fodor's travel guides put the park on its "No" list for 2018, suggesting that tourists not visit in order for the environment to heal itself after being trashed by mass tourism.

Get in
Ao Phang Nga National Park is in the province of Phang Nga, between the provinces Phuket and Krabi. It is north of the Ko Yao islands.

To get there, get on one of the songthaews (shared taxis) from the centre of Phang Nga to Tha Dan. If you have your own transport, drive south along highway 4, and after about 5 km, turn left onto the road to Tha Dan. There you will find the park headquarters. You can hire a boat at the pier next to the park office for a three-hour tour of the park (1500 baht and a maximum of four passengers). Kayak is additional charge of 1200 Baht for two Kayaks (2 adults and 2 children).

If you're coming from Phang Nga, you can make a tour with Sayan (in the bus station) or MT Tour (in the Muang Thong hotel, 100 m from the bus station). If you arrive at the bus station there is the usual harassment. But take your time and don't believe everything the people tell you there because they want to force or lure you to their tour operator or hotel. So do not immediately buy a ticket when you get off the bus. Talk with the different tour operators and see what's the best for you. Usually there are a couple of different trips available every day. Half day tours, full day tours, and tours with a night in Ko Panyi. There are also sea canoeing trips. Tours booked from Krabi or Phuket are shorter and are more expensive.

Fees and permits
Entry to the park is 300 baht for an adult and 100 baht for a child (20. July 2018) paid on floating platform for kayak rental. The park headquarters is open 08ː00-16ː00 (+66 7-641-1136).

Get around
It's best to get around the park by kayak.

See
Tour operators organize many different tours and most of them follow the standard route around the bay passing weird rock formations, limestone outcrops, hidden lakes, tiny beaches and caves. Tours usually go to Khao Ping Gan (Leaning Rock) which was featured in the James Bond movie The Man With the Golden Gun as Scaramanga's hideaway. Ko Tapu in front of James Bond Island is a popular rock. It is often used as a symbol of Phang Nga. On the James Bond Island, the beach is littered with trinket vendors trying to sell you something and the experience of seeing the island may be somewhat disappointing and diluted.

A Phang Nga Bay tour may take you to Ko Panyi, a village built on stilts. The mosque and the graveyard are the only places which are built on ground. It's a tourist trap during the day as many tours also stop here. Some tours will give you the option of staying overnight, which is preferable to really experience the village as the village returns to normal in the evening. If you go inland you can see more of the village and eat at local stalls. In Ko Panyi there are now many people living and working from outside, thus less authentic. Many of these people come from the poorer Isaan region. If you want to see a real fishing village go to Ko Ma Paay. Just as in other parts of southern Thailand, the inhabitants of Ko Panyi are of Malay descent.

Do

Sea-canoeing is a popular activity in the park. It is a form of eco-tourism that is available in several variations, as popular one-day tours, or more extended tours involving overnight camping on island beaches. You will see more of the area, as many mangrove swamps and island grottoes are only accessible by canoe.

One company that offers sea-canoeing tours is Two Sea Tour. Their boat leaves from the North East of Phuket island (Ao Por) at 6am.

Buy
You will be flooded with tacky souvenir shops on James Bond Island.

Sleep
Most people visit as a day-trip and do not spend the night at the park. It is possible, however. Some package tours include staying the night at Ko Panyi, one of the villages on stilts. Tha Dan also has lodging available.

Go next
Most visitors go back where they originally came from, usually Phang Nga, Phuket or Krabi. From those places, you could take one of the boats to Ko Yao.

title: Ao Phang Nga National Park


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Phan Rang–Tháp Chàm

Phan Rang - Tháp Chàm is the capital of the Ninh Thuan province in the Southern Region of Vietnam.

Understand
Phan Rang - Tháp Chàm, then known as Panduranga, is a former capital of the Cham Empire. It lies along the 1A National Highway between Nha Trang and Phan Thiet with many Cham people still living in the area. It has a domestic resort town nearby in the form of Ninh Chu beach, 8 km to the east. There are also restored and still in use Cham relics. It is a quieter alternative to Nha Trang to the north, Dalat to the west and Phan Thiet to the south with few foreign travelers stopping. Sometimes tour buses on the way to Dalat will make a lunch and Cham tower stop here.

A cog railway that ran to Dalat has been damaged since the war. A 7-km (4.3-mi) section of the line between Da Lat Railway Station and the nearby village of Trại Mát was restored and returned to active use as a tourist attraction. Restored railway cars carry the name "Dalat Plateau Rail Road", although this name was not used when the entire line was in use. A plan was announced in 2019 to restore the remainder of the line.

Get in
There are infrequent buses from Nha Trang, Dalat, Phan Thiet (Mui Ne), and Ho Chi Minh City, usually one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Get around
This is a populated capital and motorcycle taxis (Vietnamese: xe ôm) can usually be found.

See
Po Kluang Garai Cham Tower 8 km west of the town on the road to Dalat near the Thap Cham train station. This is the last capital of the Cham empire before the Vietnamese took over. The location has been restored and has an interesting photography gallery in their otherwise tchotchke filled souvenir area.

Po Rame is a harder to find tower 9 km south on Highway 1A and off the highway a bit in a village. The temple is still in use although the people tending to it will usually open it up to let you in.

Do
Relax on the sandy beaches when it is empty on the weekdays.

Eat
The stretch of Ninh Chu beach next to the Sai Gon - Ninh Chu Hotel has a bunch of local restaurants with live seafood in bowls and tanks for reasonable prices (50,000 - 150,000 dong).

Various roadside stalls serve up pho, bun, and com tam (broken rice with grilled pork chop) for 15,000 - 25,000 dong.

The hordes of goats you see wandering roads are served in the restaurants.

These prices are accurate as of June 2012.

Sleep

 * Huong Bien Guesthouse & Hotel, clean guesthouse further along the road once it has turned to dirt past the Sai Gon - Ninh Chu Hotel in Ninh Chu. As of June 2012 the owners were building a brand new extension next door with some rooms available. Single rooms are 150,000 dong.
 * Sai Gon - Ninh Chu Hotel, a 4-star Ninh Chu beach branch of the Sai Gon hotel chain with rooms from USD50-200.

title: Phan Rang–Tháp Chàm


text:
Phatthalung

Phatthalung (พัทลุง) is a city in the Southern Gulf Coast region of Thailand.

Understand
Phatthalung is on the west coast of Songkhla Lake, 860 km from Bangkok. This mountainous city is among the ancient cities in the south. Khao Ok Thalu or Mount Ok Thalu, the symbol of the city, is prominent by its height and can be seen from a distance. The performing arts of Nang Talung (puppet shadow play) and Nora dance have their origins in this city. It was assumed from evidence that Phatthalung had been a town built in the Srivijaya period. The original town was at Hua Khao Daeng on the coast, now opposite the city of Songkhla.

By car
From Bangkok, there are three possible routes:

 * Follow Hwy 4 to Chumphon and, at the Pathomphon intersection, take a turn toward Ranong, Phang Nga, Krabi, Trang, and Phatthalung, a total distance of around 1,140 km.
 * Follow Hwy 4 to Chumphon and switch to Hwy 41 toward Phatthalung, a total distance of 840 km.
 * Follow Hwy 4 past Chumphon, Surat Thani, and Nakhon Si Thammarat, change to Hwy 403, and at the Khao Chum Thong junction, switch to Hwy 41 toward Phatthalung.

By plane
There is no airport in Phatthalung. Visitors can take a flight to Trang or Hat Yai. For more information, contact Thai Airways at Tel. 1566, +66 2 800060, +66 2 6282000; the Trang Office at Tel. +66 75 218066, +66 75 219923; the Hat Yai Office at Tel. +66 74 245851–2, +66 74 243711, +66 74 233433.

By train
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) serves Phatthalung. Tel. 1690, +66 2 2237010, +66 2 2237020, or contact the Phatthalung Railway Station at Tel. +66 74 613106.

There are four trains per day from Bangkok, taking about 16 hours. Different trains have different combinations of 1st class sleepers, 2nd class A/C sleepers, 2nd class fan sleepers, and seats (not recommended as all these trains travel overnight). The train departing Bangkok at 16:10 and arriving in Phattalung at 08:26 is recommended, it has 2nd class sleepers, both A/C and fan carriages. 1st class A/C tickets cost 1500 baht, 2nd class A/C 1500-1700 baht, 2nd class fan sleepers 575 baht. Upper berths are always around 10% cheaper on Thai sleeper trains.

See

Buy
Famous souvenirs include "kalamae" or coconut toffee, "kluai chap" or crispy buttered banana, and "luk yi" (velvet tamarind) candy, and crispy baked prawns.

Drink
Although this area has a sizeable Muslim minority, alcoholic drinks are still widely available.

Go next
Take the train south to the regional centre of Hat Yai or further down the Southern Gulf Coast. From there, you can cross into Malaysia.

Or if heading north, Bangkok is only an overnight ride on a sleeper train away.

title: Phatthalung


text:
Phayao

Phayao (พะเยา) is a city in the Northern River Valleys of Northern Thailand, about 700 km from Bangkok and 100km northeast of Chiang Mai.

Understand
Surrounded by mountains and valleys, Phayao sits in a peaceful, though modestly developed, area. The town was the centre of an independent city state until it was folded into the Lannathai kingdom in the mid-14th century.

The modern town covers most of the eastern shore of Phayao Lake.

By bus
Buses run regularly from Bangkok's northern bus terminal (Mo Chit).

The bus from Chiang Rai costs 92 baht (Feb 2024) and takes 2 hr.

There are four buses departing Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3 daily, arriving at Phayao Bus Terminal. The whole journey takes around 3 hours.

By car
Highway 1 (Phaholyothin Road) passes through Muang Phayao.

From Bangkok, drive on Highway 32 to Sing Buri, then take route 117 to Phitsanulok, and Highway 11 to Phrae then routes 101 and 103, and it will merge onto Highway 1. The route is almost 700 km in length.

From Chiang Mai, drive on route 118, then turn onto route 120 at Mae Chedi town, going through Lampang and then Highway 1 to Muang Phayao. The route is around 150 km in length.

By plane
The closest airport to Phayao is Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (IATA: CEI, ICAO: VTCT) which is around 100 kilometres north of the city centre of Phayao.

By train
The nearest railway stations are in Lampang and Chiang Mai.

Get around
There are tuk-tuks at the bus station.

See

Do

 * Take a boat trip to the "sunken wat" in the middle of the lake. Small boats leave from the jetty. Price: 40 baht per person.
 * Take a lakeside stroll or do as the locals do and picnic on the grassy shore.
 * While not as mainstream as some of the other Northern Provinces, the provinces has as some hiking trails that are more isolated: Doi Luang-Doi Hnog (ดอยหลวง-ดอยหนอก), Bo Sib Song (บ่อสิบสอง), Phu Lanka-Doi Phu Nom(ดอยภูนม) and Phu An Ma (ภูอานม้า) are some major ones in the area.
 * While not as mainstream as some of the other Northern Provinces, the provinces has as some hiking trails that are more isolated: Doi Luang-Doi Hnog (ดอยหลวง-ดอยหนอก), Bo Sib Song (บ่อสิบสอง), Phu Lanka-Doi Phu Nom(ดอยภูนม) and Phu An Ma (ภูอานม้า) are some major ones in the area.

Eat

A long stretch of cheap (roughly 50 baht) night eateries starts about 200m from the bus station. Buy (and open) beer at the 7-Eleven across the road and take it to your stall of choice.

title: Phayao


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Phetchabun

Phetchabun (เพชรบูรณ์) is a city in a province of the same name in Lower Northern Thailand.

Understand
346 kilometres from Bangkok, Phetchabun borders on three regions, the North, the Central and the Northeast. The central part of the province is on the Pa Sak river basin with mountain ranges running along both the western and eastern sectors. Because of the fertility of the land, Phetchabun has always been an agriculturally productive area. The very name of the province means the "land of crops and foods".

Today, Phetchabun is a province with rich tourism potential. Its climate is pleasant due to the mountainous and forested areas and it has a history of richness and prosperity for more than 1,400 years. However, there is not a lot here for tourists because it is off the beaten track. Effectively, it is a "branch line" off the normal bus routes.

Buses from Phitsanulok, Khon Kaen, etc., stop at Lom Sak some 40 km distant so few people come here. Regrettably also, the bus terminal is in the middle of nowhere, although there are tuk-tuks.

By bus
Quite a few buses stop at this town on the way to Lom Sak. Here are some services you can find from Bangkok's Mo Chit Terminal:

 * The Transport Company, Ltd., +66 2 9362852-66
 * Phetprasert (Phet Tour), +66 2 9363230
 * Thin Siam Tour +66 2 9360500

2-3 buses per hour. First-class service from Phetprasert costs 263 baht and takes 4 hours.

Get around
Motorbike taxis and motor trishaws are available at the market, hotels, and the bus station.

Better to bring your own vehicle, if you are planning to go to Khao Kho. Also, you might want to find some gas stations.

See

Festivals

Buy

 * Sweet Tamarind
 * Sweet Tamarind

Eat

 * Khanom chin — Khanom Chin, popular food of Lom Kao district, is a noodle-like dish made from flour. It is served with gravy and side dish of various fresh local vegetables.
 * Sweet Tamarind — Makham Wan

Go next
The bus terminal is a very local one, and if you want to go to (say) Khon Kaen or Phitsanulok, then you will need to get a local bus from the terminal to Lom Sak, some 40 km distant, where there is a bus terminal at the edge of that city (some 8 km out) at the main road going to these places.

 * Khao Kho (40–65 km northwest) – Mountain ranges to the northwest of town about 1,174 m above sea level covered in the main by deciduous plants. Very cold during November–February, it once was the base camp from which communist insurgents conducted their struggles against the authorities during 1968–1982. Attractions include to so-called cloud sea as well as unusual Buddhist temples and statues of Wat Phra That Pha Son Kaeo.
 * Lom Sak (55 km north)
 * Si Thep (130 km south) – ruins of an ancient city from the 5th to 13th centuries; Si Thep Historical Park contains the ruins of ancient Phetchabun, encompassing Si Thep ancient town, originally called Mueang Aphai Sali. It is believed to have been built during the boom years of the ancient Khmer empire, 1,000 years old. The historic town is surrounded by a moat and a mound; inside, ponds and swamps dot the compound.
 * Si Thep (130 km south) – ruins of an ancient city from the 5th to 13th centuries; Si Thep Historical Park contains the ruins of ancient Phetchabun, encompassing Si Thep ancient town, originally called Mueang Aphai Sali. It is believed to have been built during the boom years of the ancient Khmer empire, 1,000 years old. The historic town is surrounded by a moat and a mound; inside, ponds and swamps dot the compound.

title: Phetchabun


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Phetchaburi

Phetchaburi (เพชรบุรี) - pronounced and sometimes spelled Phetburi - is the provincial capital of Phetchaburi Province.

Understand
Phetchaburi is the capital city of Phetchaburi Province, about 120 km southwest of Bangkok. The city is one of the oldest settlements in Thailand, mentioned in historical records dating to the 8th century, and having significant standing artifacts dating to the 12th century. There are numerous temples in and around the city centre and market area, in addition to the Royal Palace, known informally as Khao Wang, that dominates the skyline. The city is on the River Phet ('diamond' in Thai), which originates in Kaeng Krachan National Park and flows into the Gulf of Siam at Baan Laem.

Phetchaburi is a predominantly agricultural province, and the city reflects this with a large and thriving traditional market, buzzing with activity from pre-dawn until mid-day, and replete with the aromas of everything. It is very much a working city, with few tourists or the infrastructure to support them.

Get in
From Bangkok, the blue-white express buses (Bus 977, Bus 72) from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) (dark blue ticket booth 89, departure Platform 6) will take you directly to Phetchaburi's bus terminal, which is adjacent to a night market. Express buses leave Bangkok every two hours between 11:00 and 17:00, and you should allow two hours for the journey, which will cost 112 baht. There are also minibuses, same ticket booth and departure platform, but they do not provide extra space for bigger pieces of luggage. Take care to avoid the blue, white and orange buses as they will stop many times and will take much longer to reach Phetchaburi.

You can also reach Phetchaburi by train from Hualamphong Station. The journey normally takes around four hours, but can occasionally take longer. This will cost 100-250 baht, depending on the type of train. It's also possible to reach Phetchaburi from the south, e.g. from Hua Hin (ticket price 13-43 baht, travel time 1-1.5 hours).

A taxi from Bangkok should cost no more than 2,000 baht and should take around two hours.

Get around
Phetchaburi itself is blissfully free of traffic snarls, except on the main north-south highway that bisects the province, but by-passes the town.

There are no meter taxis. There are tuk-tuks, motorcycle taxis, and for a slow cruise around the market area, plenty of traditional two-seat pedal-power tricycle taxis. Whatever your means of transportation, it would be a good idea to have your destination written down in Thai for the driver.

At the train station tuk-tuks ask for 300 baht for a round trip to the cave, a few metres away prices drop significantly (150-200 baht). If you have time and stamina, the main sights can also be reached by foot.

For longer journeys around the province there are local buses (pick-ups with benches) available from the market area, but you need to ask the drivers for their destinations (you will quickly be directed to the correct bus).

Most of the important temples, except Khao Wang, are within walking distance of the market area.

See

 * Wat Khao Takhrao (วัดเขาตะเครา)
 * This temple houses a highly revered sitting Buddha image called "Luang Pho Khao Takhrao". The image was found at the mouth of the Mae Klong River in Samut Songkhram by the villagers of Ban Laem, who migrated from Ban Laem to Samut Songkhram at the fall of Ayutthaya.
 * Wat Khao Takhrao (วัดเขาตะเครา)
 * This temple houses a highly revered sitting Buddha image called "Luang Pho Khao Takhrao". The image was found at the mouth of the Mae Klong River in Samut Songkhram by the villagers of Ban Laem, who migrated from Ban Laem to Samut Songkhram at the fall of Ayutthaya.

 * Hat Laem Luang (หาดแหลมหลวง)
 * Four kilometres north of Hat Chao Samran, this beach stretches for two kilometres.

 * Kaeng Krachan Dam (เขื่อนแก่งกระจาน)
 * It is 760 metres long and 58 metres high, overlooking beautiful scenery of the reservoir and its islands.

 * Kaeng Krachan National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติแก่งกระจาน)
 * This is the most extensive national park of Thailand and still largely unexplored. It was declared a national park on 12 June 1981, with clearly defined areas for a reservoir and year round green jungle in the Tanaosri Range, which is the origin of many rivers.

 * Tham Khao Yoi (ถ้ำเขาย้อย)
 * It houses several Buddha images and was the place where King Mongkut practised meditation while he was in the monkhood.

 * Wat Kuti (วัดกุฏิ)
 * This temple houses a bot or rite hall made entirely from carved teak wood. The outer surface was carved into scenes depicting Buddha's story.

 * Lao Song or Thai Song Dam Tribal Villages (หมู่บ้านลาวโซ่งหรือไทยทรงดำ)
 * These are found in many types of vicinity in Khao Yoi, particularly at Ban Nong Prong and Ban Thap Khang. Their ancestors have migrated from Laos. In April, they organise their own social events with entertainment and folk plays.

 * Tham Khao Luang (ถ้ำเขาหลวง)
 * This cave houses a Buddha image cast by the royal command of King Rama V as a dedication to King Rama III and King Rama IV. At the foot of the Khao Luang Hill, there is a large monastery called "Wat Tham Klaep" or Wat Bun-thawi which has a very large hall and a chapel with beautifully carved door panels.

 * Wat Mahathat Worawihan (วัดมหาธาตุวรวิหาร)
 * There is a five-topped pagoda constructed in accordance with the Mahayana concept housing Buddha’s relics. The stucco designs decorated on the viharn and the ubosot reflect the skill of local craftsmen.

 * Wat Yai Suwannaram (วัดใหญ่สุวรรณาราม)
 * The main shrine hall has no windows. It contains 300-year-old mural paintings of mythical angels. The hall also houses a preaching throne with intricate woodcarvings and gold gilt works of Bangkok design.

 * Phra Ram Ratchaniwet (พระรามราชนิเวศน์)
 * This palace of European architectural style is originally called "Wang Ban Puen". King Rama V commanded it built as a rainy season palace in 1916. It was used to welcome and accommodate state visitors during the reign of King Rama VI.

 * Hat Puek Tian (หาดปึกเตียน)
 * This wide and long beach is popular among Thai tourists. The most prominent landmark is a huge statue of a female giant standing in the sea.

 * Huai Sai Wildlife Breeding Centre (ศูนย์เพาะเลี้ยงและขยายพันธุ์สัตว์ป่าห้วยทราย)
 * Fourteen kilometres east of Cha-am at km220, a 4-km branch road leads to the Huai Sai Wildlife Breeding Centre where wild animals, both mammals and birds, are conserved in its shady area.

 * Phra Nakhon Khiri Fair (งานพระนครคีรี)
 * Also known as Khao Wang, it is an important historical site. During the reign of King Rama IV, it served as the king's out-of-town palace. To celebrate Phetchaburi's cultural heritage the people of Phetchaburi hold the fair regularly around the end of February at Khao Wang Compound. The five-day fair presents a parade of people enacting the procession of monarchs who ruled Phetchaburi during the Dvaravati and Srivijaya Periods. Apart from that, there are exhibitions on Phetchaburi's history and archaeological objects. Cooking demonstrations of the province's famous dishes and sweetmeats are among the main attractions of the fair.  Also featured are various kinds of entertainment and contests.

 * Thai Song Dam Festival (ประเพณีไทยทรงดำ)
 * The festival is held annually on 18 April at Song Dam Village, Khao Yoi district. Apart from a merit-making ceremony, folk plays and the authentic cuisine of Thai Song Dam villagers are also on offer.  Many villagers wear their traditional costumes

 * Khao Bandai It (เขาบันไดอิฐ)
 * This hill is 121 metres high and 2 km south of Khao Wang. It is the site of an ancient temple of the Ayutthaya Period. There are several caves called Tham Prathun, Tham Phra Chao Suea, and Tham Phra Phuttha Saiyat.

Buy
In Phetchaburi you can buy all of the staples of daily life, but as regards souvenirs, there are just a few small but adequate shops around the base of the cable car that serves the Khao Wang Palace. For Thai silk and clothing, the Big C hypermarket on the main highway carries a modest selection, as do a handful of shops in the market area. Serious souvenir-hunters might wish to head south about 65 km to Hua Hin, where there are plenty of high-class souvenir shops.

Phetchaburi is known for a variety of sweets. The reputation of these sweets stems from the use of tanot (palm) sugar as an ingredient. Phetchaburi is known throughout Thailand for its Thai dessert, khanom Thai, delicious candy-like finger food made from egg, palm sugar, coconut and a binding agent, usually crushed beans or flour. Other examples are mo-kaeng, a sweet made from flour, sugar and eggs; a-lua and sampanni, a sweet made from flour and sugar; thong yip, thong yot and foi thong, sweets made from baked egg yolk; and chao tan chueam (palm seed in thick syrup). Khao chae (rice served with ice and sweetened meat) is a renowned local dish and is popular during the summer season. Khanom chin thotman (rice noodles with fishcakes) is also a popular dish. Fruits are found in every season. Phetchaburi's fruits are sweet and aromatic rose apples known as chomphu phet, fresh palm seeds, pineapples from Don Khun Huai, cantaloupes, and bananas from Tha Yang. The main north-south highway is dotted with large stores offering a variety of fruit and confections.

Eat
Like all Thai cities, Phetchaburi has hundreds of restaurants and cafes serving almost every variety of Thai food. Many of them specialise in just a few menu items, so the trick is to decide what you want to eat before you decide on where to eat. There are almost no English language signs or menus, so specific recommendations are not especially helpful. On the other hand, whichever of these cafes or restaurants you choose to frequent, your chances of not being served a wholesome Thai dish are very low.

If you wish to be "safe", the two hotels mentioned below have restaurants that will likely not disappoint you. In addition, the Big C has several Western-style franchises under its roof (e.g., Chester's Grill, KFC), with air conditioning and English language menus. These establishments suffer from severe noise pollution.

Apart from a few Chinese restaurants, the Big C franchises and two pizza parlours in peripheral locations, anything other than Thai food is almost impossible to find in Phetchaburi city.

Sleep

The hotels in the market area are a better option, as they are mostly old converted shop-houses, aimed at both tourists and commercial travellers.

Go next
Phetchaburi is 16 km from the coast. The nearest easily accessible seaside village is Chao Samran, which has a few small hotels and guesthouses, and one luxury resort. It is a tranquil spot, ideal for seekers of peace and solitude (except on long weekends). Legend has it that this beach was a favourite place of relaxation for Thai royalty during the 17th and 18th centuries when Ayutthaya was the capital of Thailand.

Puek Tian is a few kilometres to the south of Chao Samran, and is somewhat larger and more popular, although dilapidated. It is distinguished by the very large statues of imaginary figures from Thai literature dotting the beach area.

About 40 km south of Phetchaburi lies Cha-am, a rapidly developing resort with a fine long beach that is immensely popular with Thai families. There are also many good hotels and guest houses aimed at visitors from overseas, especially from Northern Europe. The ordinary fan buses take about 90 min and cost 40 baht.

The whole of the western half of the province is given over to the Kaeng Krachan National Park, the largest such park in Thailand, and an evergreen jungle that remains mostly unexplored to this day. The park headquarters can provide details of hiking, rafting and camping opportunities (Tel: +66 32 459291).

title: Phetchaburi


text:
Phichit

Phichit (พิจิตร) is a city in Lower Northern Thailand.

Understand
In lower northern Thailand, some 345 km from Bangkok, Phichit is accessible by both road and rail. Nurtured by two rivers, the Yom and the Nan running parallel to one another north to south, the land is agriculturally fertile. Once the site of an ancient town dating back almost a thousand years ago, Phichit has played in a major role in the history of both Sukhothai and Ayutthaya.

Known as land of the crocodiles, it has been home to this reptile which has thrived in its waters. There are today several freshwater crocodile farms. Phichit features in the Thai epic Krai Thong (ไกรทอง) composed by King Rama II which tells of Chalawan (ชาละวัน), a powerful crocodile king.

See
The main ancient sight is the large prang of Wat Mahathat. There is also a moat, city walls, as well as artefacts. The City Pillar Shrine is also in the ancient city.

 * Built on the west bank of the Nan River within the town in 1845, Wat Tha Luang (วัดท่าหลวง) today houses Luang Pho Phet (หลวงพ่อเพชร), a Chiang Saen-style Buddhist statue cast in bronze.
 * Bueng Si Fai (บึงสีไฟ) is a large freshwater lake to the south of town. It is a Fishery Department facility to breed freshwater fish. On the other side of the park is an aquarium exhibiting species of native fish and local fishing equipment.
 * Utthayan Mueang Kao Pichit (อุทยานเมืองเก่าพิจิตร) . The park features an ancient town dating back more than 900 years. Most of the structures discovered were built during the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods. In the town centre is Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat (วัดพระศรีรัตนมหาธาตุ) with its large bell-shaped chedi inside of which have been found hundreds of votive tablets.
 * Wat Nakhon Chum (วัดนครชุม) It features an old ubosot built with brick and mortar with the upper parts in wood. In the ubosot is a large Sukhothai-style Buddha statue once used as the principal statue in oath-taking ceremonies pledging allegiance to the monarch.
 * Wat Khao Rup Chang (วัดเขารูปช้าง) On the hilltop is an old, Ayutthaya-style chedi built of bricks, but with its top part now broken. The mondop houses a bronze holy relic.
 * Tapan Hin is the commercial district of Phichit. The most prominent sight of the district is the 34 metre-tall golden Buddha statue, the Luang Pho To, at Wat Thewaprasat on the Nan River bank opposite the Tapan Hin Market.
 * Wat Bang Khlan (วัดบางคลาน). It was the residence temple of the highly revered monk, the late Luang Pho Ngoen (หลวงพ่อเงิน). The Chai Bowon Museum inside the temple collects ancient items such as votive tablets, Buddha statues, and earthenware for display.
 * Utthayan Mueang Kao Pichit (อุทยานเมืองเก่าพิจิตร) . The park features an ancient town dating back more than 900 years. Most of the structures discovered were built during the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods. In the town centre is Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat (วัดพระศรีรัตนมหาธาตุ) with its large bell-shaped chedi inside of which have been found hundreds of votive tablets.
 * Wat Nakhon Chum (วัดนครชุม) It features an old ubosot built with brick and mortar with the upper parts in wood. In the ubosot is a large Sukhothai-style Buddha statue once used as the principal statue in oath-taking ceremonies pledging allegiance to the monarch.
 * Wat Khao Rup Chang (วัดเขารูปช้าง) On the hilltop is an old, Ayutthaya-style chedi built of bricks, but with its top part now broken. The mondop houses a bronze holy relic.
 * Tapan Hin is the commercial district of Phichit. The most prominent sight of the district is the 34 metre-tall golden Buddha statue, the Luang Pho To, at Wat Thewaprasat on the Nan River bank opposite the Tapan Hin Market.
 * Wat Bang Khlan (วัดบางคลาน). It was the residence temple of the highly revered monk, the late Luang Pho Ngoen (หลวงพ่อเงิน). The Chai Bowon Museum inside the temple collects ancient items such as votive tablets, Buddha statues, and earthenware for display.

Buy
Fruit-growing is one of Phichit's major occupations. Among its more well-known produce are pomelo, jack-fruit, krathon, and maprang. Fruits are also use in making several kinds of products.
 * Som O (pomelo) (ส้มโอ) is probably Phichit's best known and bestselling fruit. Grown mainly in Pho Prathap Chang District, it has a mixed sweet and sour taste and has no seeds. The flesh is pinkish. There are two seasons for pomelo, October and April. The peels of young pomelo are made into jam-like sweets, highly popular as a snack.
 * Makham Kaeo (มะขามแก้ว) is another highly popular buy. Tamarind fruit are turned into a kind of candy which has a pleasant taste of sourness, saltiness, sweetness, and slight pungency.

A popular handicraft of the province is the colourful hand-woven fabric (ผ้าทอมือ).

title: Phichit