Uttaradit Province Guide: History, Towns and Local Products
Uttaradit's name means 'port of the north'. It grew up as a trading town on the Nan River, where goods from the northern hills were loaded onto boats bound for the central plain.
This guide tells the story of Phraya Phichai and his broken sword, follows the river up to the Sirikit Dam, visits the old temples of Laplae and lists the fruit that has made Uttaradit's orchards famous.
Uttaradit
The Broken Sword and the Orchards of Laplae
A river province of the lower north, proud of a general who fought on with a broken sword and of the fruit that grows on its hillsides.
By the SnapSellGo Thailand Desk · Updated September 2026 · 8 min read
Made in Uttaradit
What Uttaradit makes best. Real listings will appear here.
For now these cards are a guide to Uttaradit's specialities; live products will take over here.
Why Uttaradit honours a broken sword
Phraya Phichai, a general of King Taksin, was born in the province. In 1773, defending the town of Phichai against a Burmese army, he fought on even after his sword broke, and he became known as Phraya Phichai Dap Hak, 'Phraya Phichai of the broken sword'. His statue stands in front of the provincial hall, and the town honours him every year.
The Nan River shaped Uttaradit's past as a river port, and in the 1970s it was dammed at Tha Pla to create the Sirikit Dam, one of the largest earth-fill dams in Thailand. In the west, the district of Laplae keeps old temples such as Wat Phra Thaen Sila At and Wat Phra Fang, and hill orchards known for their fruit.
Phraya Phichai
The general who fought on with a broken sword in 1773.
Sirikit Dam
A great earth-fill dam on the Nan River.
Laplae temples
Wat Phra Thaen Sila At and Wat Phra Fang.
Hill orchards
Langsat and durian from the slopes of Laplae.
Uttaradit: a timeline
Uttaradit's history is a river story, with one famous battle and a modern dam.
- 1773Phraya Phichai fights the Burmese at Phichai and breaks his sword.
- 19th centuryBang Pho, on the Nan River, is a busy trading port for goods from the north.
- 1970sThe Sirikit Dam is built on the Nan River at Tha Pla.
- TodayLaplae's orchards supply langsat and durian across Thailand.
Nine districts along the Nan
Uttaradit has 9 districts and about 450,000 residents. These are the ones to know first.
| District | What you find there |
|---|---|
| Mueang Uttaradit | The river town and the statue of Phraya Phichai. |
| Laplae | Old temples, weaving and hillside fruit orchards. |
| Tha Pla | The Sirikit Dam and its reservoir. |
| Phichai | The town where Phraya Phichai fought in 1773. |
| Nam Pat | Forested hills towards the Lao border. |
When to go: festivals and seasons
Uttaradit's calendar follows its fruit and its hero. Here are the main dates.
Shopping local in Uttaradit
OTOP labels a product by the tambon, or sub-district, that makes it, and Uttaradit is best known for langsat from the hillside orchards of Laplae, along with durian grown on the same slopes.
Laplae's villages also weave cotton in the Tai Yuan tradition, and the reservoir of the Sirikit Dam supplies freshwater fish to the markets.
Real products from Uttaradit 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? The statue of Phraya Phichai, then the Laplae temples. Love big landscapes? The Sirikit Dam reservoir. Visiting in August? The Langsat Festival in Laplae. Buying local? A basket of Laplae langsat.
Questions people ask about Uttaradit
Who was Phraya Phichai Dap Hak?
A general of King Taksin, born in what is now Uttaradit. In 1773 he fought a Burmese army at Phichai and kept fighting after his sword broke, hence his name, 'of the broken sword'.
What is the Sirikit Dam?
A large earth-fill dam on the Nan River in Tha Pla district, built in the 1970s for irrigation and electricity.
What does Uttaradit mean?
It means 'port of the north', from its past as a trading port on the Nan River.
What fruit is Uttaradit known for?
Langsat and durian from the hillside orchards of Laplae district.
Sources: Wikipedia entries for Uttaradit province, Phraya Phichai Dap Hak, Sirikit Dam, Laplae district and Wat Phra Thaen Sila At. Check festival dates locally: most follow the lunar calendar. Cover photo: Wat Phra Thaen Sila At by Takeaway, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.