Phetchabun: The Switzerland of Thailand

[snoop1130]

 

Boom in domestic travelling within Thailand

Due to Covid-19 with the country lockdown, domestic travelling within Thailand has seen a major boom. The more popular destinations for local expatriates are the seaside resorts like Pattaya and Hua Hin, the sandy beaches of Phuket and Lanna heritage of Chiang Mai.  Out of the 77 provinces in Thailand, there are a few that deserve a visit due to their distinguished geographical features or historical significance. 

 

Generally referred to as “The Switzerland of Thailand” because of its high mountainous area; Phetchabun fits perfectly in the category. It is a province situated in between the Central, Northern and Northeastern regions of Thailand.  By car, it takes around five hours from Bangkok with scenic highways (Highway No. 12) and good dual carriageway roads. Phetchabun has a number of mountain ranges cut through wide fertile valleys. In addition, the area is blessed with national parks, forests, lakes and waterfalls. It is more popular among Thai domestic travellers as the province is one of the closest areas to Bangkok that offers a cooler climate to escape the capital’s suffocating city heat due to its high mountains. For more adventurous foreign visitors, Phetchabun offers an attractive option.

 

The land of crops and food

The very name of Phetchabun means “the land of crops and food.” The province experiences a long and prosperous history and is embedded with rich tourism potential. Benefitting from the fertility of its soil, Phetchabun has always been a productive area. It centres on the Pa Sak River basin with mountain ranges running along both its Eastern and Western reaches. The mountains and forests offer a favourable and attractive climate. It is the meeting place of three regions of Thailand, the North, the Central plains and the Northeast. “The Switzerland of Thailand” is famous for its prized fruits and sweet tamarind.

 

Khao Kho National Park

Khao Kho is a very commercialised park with number of villages, hundreds of resorts and other premises through out the park. Khao Kho National Park is a very popular holiday destination among local and foreigner tourists. The park is popular for it’s cooler weather, morning mist covering surrounding valleys, impressive viewpoints, a huge wind farm, temples, and various types of gardens, waterfalls and number of other attractions. The main mountain Khao Kho is 1,143 metres in height. The other surrounding national parks are Thung Salaeng Luang National Park to the west and Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park a bit further North. Khao Kho was a base from which communist insurgents conducted their struggle from 1968 to 1982. Other interesting places include various viewing points, remains of guerrilla bases, a war memorial, an arms museum, and a royal palace.

 

Wat Phrathat Pha Sorn Kaew

Many visitors to Phetchabun will visit Wat Phrathat Pha Sorn Kaew which was established in 2004, with Phraphawanawachiraprakarn as the abbot of the temple. It is located at Pha Sorn Kaew; the Dharma practice hall is surrounded by scenic nature and tall panoramic mountain ranges. The origin behind the name “Pha Sorn Kaew” came from the time when many of the Tang Daeng villagers saw a glass marble levitating in the sky, then disappeared into a cave on top of a mountain peak. The villagers believed the glass marble to be a sacred object, and considered the location as a sacred place. They then called the mountain peak Pha Sorn Kaew, which literally translated as “the cliff that hides the glass”. 

 

The original land occupied by the temple was a charitable donation by two benefactors, Phawinee and Urai Chotikhun who together contributed 40,000sqm of land to the temple to construct a Dharma practice hall for the monks and Buddhists. Later, many contributors had joined together to donate additional assets to the temple. The whole area now covers a total of 145,600sqm. 

 

There are three key landmarks of Wat Phrathat Pha Sorn Kaew. They are Phrathat Pha Sorn Kaew Siriraj Thamma Naruemit Pagoda, Maha Viharn of the Five Buddha and Emerald Buddha Pavilion.

 

Full Story: https://expatlifeinthailand.com/travel-and-leisure/phetchabun-the-switzerland-of-thailand/

 

-- © Copyright Expat Life in Thailand 2021-05-24

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[FNQ]

Not sure how how Domestic Tourism to Petchabun province is going to work with 14 days quarantine in effect for visitors at the moment.

[Excel]

Just now, FNQ said:

Not sure how how Domestic Tourism to Petchabun province is going to work with 14 days quarantine in effect for visitors at the moment.

Maybe as they dream it is like Switzerland that they will adopt assisted suicide as a new earner during those 14 day quarantine period , just like Switzerland allows ???? 

[BritManToo]

Entry fee to foreigners 200bht or 400bht?

Entry fee to Thais 20bht.

 

No thanks.

[rwill]

Doesn't Khao Yai have the same nickname?

[Denim]

I've been to Switzerland.

 

No resemblance whatsoever.

[Muhendis]

Great news..... Now where did I put my skis.........

[mackayae]

It's actually quite nice. Before Covid we (wife, 2 children) used to go there for a week around Christmas/New Year.

[BritManToo]

10 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa only 250 bt...400 with whipped cream----600 with peppermint schnapps

 

No yodeling allowed after dark.....mitten and scarf rental available...for chinese only

 

ANybody been there?  did it feel like the swiss alps?

I've been there, it was hot as hell, some nice waterfalls to swim in.

Our family farm is near LomSak, the roads aren't very good.

 

Edited May 25, 2021 by BritManToo

[CharlieH]

Anything with a green view and a puddle (lake) people call "little Switzerland" .they seem to do this everywhere.

Khao kho is pleasant, yes, touristy well trodden path. Loads of bikers from bkk camping etc on weekends.Christmas/New Year very popular.

 

[LomSak27]

29 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Entry fee to foreigners 200bht or 400bht?

Entry fee to Thais 20bht.

 

No thanks.

 

 

Don't knock your coffee over, dyspeptic expat. There is no entrance "fee". You pay for parking, same same for tourist expat or kone Thai. Be careful on the drive in and out from the highway.

BTW Stopped at Kaeng Sopha waterfall, Tuang Salang Luang National Park on the way back. They waived the foreigners fee and charged Thai rates. Who would have thunk that.

[GreasyFingers]

They forgot to mention that the resorts had been ordered to close for most of this month. We live amongst them and it has been pleasantly quite without the tour buses, karaoke and bikes.

[Denim]

49 minutes ago, Muhendis said:

Great news..... Now where did I put my skis.........

 

The snows melting, better get your skates on.

[Cricky]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

 

Generally referred to as “The Switzerland of Thailand” because of its high mountainous area; Phetchabun fits perfectly in the category

Absolutely beautiful part of the world.
Lived in Phetchabun 20 years ago, I go back regularly to visit.
Phetchabun is quite high above sea level, it does get quite cold in winter.
The Mrs. has quite a lot of land a little further north, Khao Kor, amazingly picturesque.

[phutoie2]

I always thought it was called "Little Switzerland' due to all the pine trees planted around the Royal Palace area. 

King Rama 9 had them planted there as he was schooled in Switzerland. 

The region up there was where the Thai communist party was fighting the Thai army. The military museum there though small is an interesting visit. 

[tonray]

I've been to Phetchabun...very nice areas around Khao Kho...but their selection of good cheese and fondue was sorely lacking. But the tamarind was pretty good for sure

[Henryford]

I would love to travel domestically but it is next to impossible. You never know what colour your destination is, if you have to quarantine there or coming back. Are you even allowed to cross provinces. Will anything be open even if you get there, bars, restaurants, hotels, tourists sites.

[tonray]

8 minutes ago, Henryford said:

I would love to travel domestically but it is next to impossible. You never know what colour your destination is, if you have to quarantine there or coming back. Are you even allowed to cross provinces. Will anything be open even if you get there, bars, restaurants, hotels, tourists sites.

Exactly...the whole vaccine miscalculation is costing Thailand an enormous amount...with the suffering disproportionately hitting those on the lower economic scale to start with. The change in the US over the past 30 days has been dramatic with 50% of the adult population vaccinated...people are going out, engaging in commerce and building back the economy. Thailand made a misstep and hopefully will get some coordination on vaccines soon instead of this Minister 'A' says this Monday and Tuesday Ministers "B" and "C" say the opposite.

[LomSak27]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Wat Phrathat Pha Sorn Kaew

Great place to break a trip if taking that route.

 

[NCC1701A]

so this makes Hua Hin little Bitter End, Tennessee.

 

and I guess Pattaya is little Intercourse, Pennsylvania. 

 

these are real places but the way. i don't just make stuff up. 

 

[Rimmer]

Multiple off topic troll rubbish from the usual suspect has been removed.

[Jaxxper]

My wife’s family are from Phetchabun. The mountains are not quite on a par with Switzerland, but it is a very nice area.

it doesn’t get the press that Chiang Rai/ Chiang Mai get , but definitely worth a visit.

 

[georgey]

Generally referred to as “The Switzerland of Thailand” because of its high mountainous area

 

Been there many times, but I've never referred to it as above, nor heard anyone compare it with Switzerland.

Nice people, good food which appears fresh and relatively untarnished by chemicals, great scenery.....but nothing like Switzerland

[tonray]

2 hours ago, LomSak27 said:

Great place to break a trip if taking that route.

 

Absolute must selfie with the giant Tamarind pods !

[CharlieH]

2 hours ago, LomSak27 said:

Great place to break a trip if taking that route.

 

Nearby Pinot Cafe and the hill top position is a great place to have coffee and enjoy the view !

[Harveyboy]

3 hours ago, tonray said:

I've been to Phetchabun...very nice areas around Khao Kho...but their selection of good cheese and fondue was sorely lacking. But the tamarind was pretty good for sure

hello mate im an x pat from France love my fondue....i make it for my family every couple of weeks .i live in phetchabun..next time you are passing call in and dip your bread .ha take care keep safe 

[Harveyboy]

wouldn't call it Switzerland..but some beautiful areas there me and the family go camping most weekends in the cooler season..

[AlfHuy]

Taken in the mountains of Thailand.

[AlfHuy]

4 minutes ago, Harveyboy said:

hello mate im an x pat from France love my fondue....i make it for my family every couple of weeks .i live in phetchabun..next time you are passing call in and dip your bread .ha take care keep safe 

Ok, bookmarked.

A bientôt.

[LomSak27]

 

Any recommendations for a place to stay, (or camp). When driving to and from the north, we usually overnight in Phrae, then take lunch or coffee in Khao Kho, never spent the night.

Yes, realize this cannot be done at present. Thinking of Better Times to come.

 

Thanks.