Phichit

Phichit is a quiet central Thailand province best known for its crocodile — the legendary giant croc Chalawan, from one of Thailand's most famous folk tales, is commemorated throughout the province with statues, a theme park, and the Bueng Si Fai freshwater swamp where the story supposedly took place. The swamp itself is a pleasant park with boat rides and lotus fields.

Wat Tha Luang houses one of the most revered Buddha images in the region, drawing pilgrims from surrounding provinces. The town is small, honest, and agricultural — rice and bananas dominate the landscape. Phichit's night market is a good place to try central Thai home cooking without any tourist inflation. The province is a natural stop between Phitsanulok and Nakhon Sawan on Highway 117, offering a brief taste of unhurried Thai provincial life.