Page 79 - Experience Thailand and More

PHETCHABUN

Land of Crops

In between Khon Kaen and Pitsanulok, the route traverses the province
of Petchabun, one of Thailand’s less visited and unspoiled provinces. The
provincial capital requires a diversion south onto Route 21 from National
Highway 12, but it is well worth a visit. The drive through the Pa Sak River
basin is spectacular, with rice, fruit and vegetables growing in all directions
between mountain ranges running north and south to the east and west.
Petchachabun, which means Land of Crops, is also known by the Thais as
Little Switzerland because of its majestic peak, Khao Kho, which attracts
visitors from near and far to watch the seas of clouds ebb and flow at dawn
and dusk.

Petchabun is located at a point where three regions intersect, the north,
central and northeast. Thus, you will hear a mixtures of dialects as you
encounter a blend of cultures and traditions brought by different nomadic
groups beginning some 1400 years ago. These include the influence of the
early southern Thai Dvaravati kingdom that was carried north, Sukhothai’s
realm as it spread east, the northern Lanna kingdom as it marched south
and the Khmer and Lao peoples who migrated from the east.

79