Phetchabun Province Guide: History, Towns and Local Products
Phetchabun fills the Pa Sak valley between the Phetchabun mountains and the edge of the Khorat Plateau. Its hills, from Khao Kho to Phu Thap Boek, draw visitors in the cool season for mist, views and mountain temples.
This guide looks at the ancient town of Si Thep, the wartime plan to make Phetchabun the capital and the fighting at Khao Kho, then tours its districts and lists the sweet tamarind it is famous for. Local makers will find a note on selling beyond the province at the end.
Phetchabun
Mountain Mist, Si Thep and Sweet Tamarind
A long valley between two mountain ranges, with a World Heritage ancient town at one end and cabbage fields in the clouds at the other.
By the SnapSellGo Thailand Desk · Updated September 2026 · 8 min read
Made in Phetchabun
A taste of Phetchabun: its best-known goods, ahead of the first listings.
Placeholders for now, showing what Phetchabun is known for. Listings from local producers will replace them.
Why Phetchabun was nearly Thailand's capital
Long before modern Thailand, Si Thep was a major town of the Dvaravati and Khmer periods, with moats, brick sanctuaries and fine stone sculpture. In 2023 the Ancient Town of Si Thep and its associated monuments were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.
During the Second World War, Prime Minister Phibun planned to move the capital to Phetchabun, protected by its mountains; parliament rejected the plan in 1944. From the late 1960s the hills of Khao Kho saw fighting between government forces and communist insurgents, now remembered by a memorial. Today Khao Kho is known for viewpoints and Wat Pha Sorn Kaew, with its seated Buddhas covered in mosaic.
Si Thep
An ancient town listed by UNESCO in 2023.
Khao Kho
Hills, viewpoints and a former battleground.
Wat Pha Sorn Kaew
A mountain temple covered in mosaic.
Sweet tamarind
The province's best-known fruit.
How Phetchabun came to be
Phetchabun's history jumps from an ancient town to a capital that never was.
- 6th–11th centurySi Thep flourishes as a town of the Dvaravati and later Khmer periods.
- 1943Prime Minister Phibun plans to move the capital to Phetchabun.
- 1944Parliament rejects the plan.
- Late 1960s–1980sKhao Kho sees fighting between government forces and communist insurgents.
- 2023Si Thep is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Eleven districts in the Pa Sak valley
Phetchabun has 11 districts and close to a million residents. These are the ones to know first.
| District | What you find there |
|---|---|
| Mueang Phetchabun | The provincial town and its markets. |
| Khao Kho | Viewpoints, the war memorial and Wat Pha Sorn Kaew. |
| Lom Kao | Phu Thap Boek and its cabbage fields in the clouds. |
| Si Thep | Si Thep Historical Park, a World Heritage site. |
| Lom Sak | A market town on the road to Isan. |
When to go: festivals and seasons
Phetchabun's best months are cool and misty. Plan around these dates.
Made in Phetchabun: OTOP and local specialities
OTOP ties each product to the sub-district that makes it, and Phetchabun is best known for makham wan, sweet tamarind, sold fresh in its pods or made into sweets and preserves.
The hills of Lom Kao grow cabbages and other cool-climate vegetables, and the valley's farms produce corn and fruit for markets across the country.
Real products from Phetchabun makers appear in the carousel at the top of this page as soon as they are listed. Sellers pay no commission on SnapSellGo, only a yearly shop fee.
Short on time? Sunrise at Khao Kho and Wat Pha Sorn Kaew. Into history? Si Thep Historical Park. Visiting in winter? The sea of mist at Phu Thap Boek. Buying local? A bag of sweet tamarind.
Questions people ask about Phetchabun
What is Si Thep?
An ancient town in Phetchabun that flourished in the Dvaravati and Khmer periods. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2023.
Was Phetchabun meant to become Thailand's capital?
Yes. During the Second World War, Prime Minister Phibun planned to move the capital there, but parliament rejected the plan in 1944.
What is Wat Pha Sorn Kaew?
A temple in the hills of Khao Kho decorated with mosaic, best known for its group of five seated Buddha images.
What is Phetchabun known for producing?
Sweet tamarind above all, along with cool-climate vegetables from Phu Thap Boek.
Sources: Wikipedia entries for Phetchabun province, Si Thep Historical Park, Plaek Phibunsongkhram, Khao Kho, Phu Thap Boek and Wat Pha Sorn Kaew. The months shown are typical; lunar holidays land on different days every year. Cover photo: Wat Pha Sorn Kaew by Stevehhaigh, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.