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Phrae (province)
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Phrae Province is in Northern Thailand. Phrae (แพร่) is the provincial capital of Phrae Province.
[edit] UnderstandAn old and important community of Northern Thailand, Phrae was founded after Chiang Mai had been established as the capital of the Lanna Thai kingdom. With one of the largest reserves of teak forests in the country, it is located on the banks of the Yom River, 555 kilometres from Bangkok. Covering an area about 6,538 square kilometres and surrounded on all sides by mountains with level plains in the middle. [edit] DistrictsThe province comprises 8 amphoe:- Den Chai; Long; Mueang Phrae; Nong Muang Khai; Rong Kwang; Song; Sung Men; Wang Chin. [edit] Cities
[edit] Other destinations[edit] Get in[edit] Get around[edit] See[edit] Amphoe Mueang PhraeWat Luang (วัดหลวง) on Kham Lue Road in town is an ancient and principal temple built at the same time that Phrae was established. Several restoration works have taken place. Some of its major features include the Viharn and Chiang Saen-style Chedi enshrining a Holy Relic brought over from Myanmar. Others are the museum housing various antiquities including several 500-year-old Buddha statues and an ancient Lanna-style wooden structure. To the west of Wat Luang is Wat Phra Non (วัดพระนอน) near the site of the old city walls. Some of the architectural works include the Chiang Saen-style Ubosot with narrow openings to let in light instead of normal windows. The lintel is made of wood with graceful designs. The eaves over the Viharn are all fretted a symbol of northern architecture. Inside is a 9 metre-long plaster Reclining Buddha. Wat Phra Bat Ming Mueang (วัดพระบาทมิ่งเมือง), located on Charoen Nakhon Road near the townhall, was built in 1955 by combining two ancient temples. There is an old Chedi containing a replica of the Holy Footprint inside. The City Pillar Shrine of Phrae (ศาลหลักเมืองแพร่), situated on Khum Deom Road in town centre, features an inscription stone with ancient Thai scripts of the Sukhothai period describing the construction of a temple in the town. Located on Nam Khu Road next to the city moats is Wat Sa Bo Kaeo (วัดสระบ่อแก้ว), a temple with several exotic Burmese artistic-styled structures and Buddha statues. It is also where Burmese monks who travel to Thailand to study the Buddhist scripture stay. Just one kilometre from the townhall on Yantrakit Koson Road is Wat Chom Sawan (วัดจอมสวรรค์), a Burmese architectural style temple. The building which combines the hall for conducting religious rituals and monk's living quarters is beautifully decorated both in its interiors and exteriors. The over-lapping roofs are adorned with fine fretworks. Antiquities found here include marble Buddha statues, statues made of woven bamboos coated with lacquer, and Buddha statues made from ivory, as well as ivory scripture slabs with Burmese scripts. About 4 kilometres away on Highway No. 101 (Phrae-Nan) is Ban Thung Hong (บ้านทุ่งโฮ้ง), a village noted for the making of products made from Mo Hom (ม่อฮ่อม) material. It is a local cotton fabric dyed in blue which is used in making native and modern wears. Ban Rong Fong (บ้านร่องฟอง) specialises in making metal agricultural tools using traditional production method. The village can be reached by taking Highway No.101 (Phrae-Nan) with a turn into Highway No. 1101 leading to Rong Fong. Ban Pong Si (บ้านโป่งศรี) at Tambon Thin of Mueang district is a village which collects and exchanges second-hand household utensils for daily use. It also sells silver products. About 12 kilometres out of town, and with a further 6 kilometres after a right turn, is the Phae Mueang Phi (วนอุทยานแพะเมืองผี), a wide area with no large trees. Because of subsidence and erosion of the soil, the harder elements remain and are formed into the shapes of exotic-looking mushrooms. A small, 2-level waterfall, Namtok Mae Khaem (น้ำตกแม่แคม) is located at Tambon Suan Khuan. To reach it, go on the Pa Daeng-Thung Hong road for 4 kilometres. Then turn left and continue for another 12 kilometres. There is another fall, larger and with three levels, in the vicinity. It is Namtok Tat Mok (น้ำตกตาดหมอก), which is about 22 kilometres from town. Wat Phra That Cho Hae (วัดพระธาตุช่อแฮ) is about 8 kilometres to the east of town on Highway No. 1022. A major religious site of the province, it was built since the time of Sukhothai. The 33 metre-tall Chiang Saen-style Chedi housed a Holy Relic. It was built of bricks and covered with bright brass sheets. The name of the temple refers to fine silk woven in Sip Song Panna (in southern China) which was first used to wrap around the Chedi when the temple was first constructed. There is a fair celebrating the Chedi in March every year. Three kilometres from Phra That Cho Hae is Wat Phra That Chom Chaeng (วัดพระธาตุจอมแจ้ง), some 10 kilometres from town. Built in the year 788, the name of the builder was unknown. The golden Chedi is 29 metres tall and enshrined a Holy Relic. There is also a museum of rare ancient relics. Phraya Chaiyabun Memorial (อนุสาวรีย์พระยาไชยบูรณ์) is about four kilometres from the Phrae townhall on Highway No. 101. Governor of the town during 1897-1902, he was slain by rebelling Shan tribe men when he refused to cede the town to them. After the rebellion was put down by government troops, King Rama V ordered a memorial erected in his honour. [edit] Amphoe Sung MenFolklore Museum (พิพิธภัณฑ์พื้นบ้าน), in the same compound as the Ban Fai garden restaurant (สวนอาหารบ้านฝ้าย) three kilometres from town on the Phrae-Sung Men road, is made up of several buildings and wooden structures displaying the local way of life. The different types of wooden houses demonstrate the different status of the local people. There are also market and shop houses of the past. About 9 kilometres to the south of town on Highway No. 101 in Sung Men district is the Hua Dong Market (ตลาดหัวดง). It is the centre of products made from wood and rattan, mostly household furniture and decorative items. Some 700 metres off Highway No.101 at Ban Hua Dong is Wat Phra Luang (วัดพระหลวง). It features a Sukhothai-style Chedi and is referred to by the local people as "That Neong" (ธาตุเนิ้ง), meaning the leaning Chedi. [edit] Amphoe Den ChaiThree kilometres from Den Chai district, or some 2 kilometres from the provincial town, is Wat Phra That Suthon Mongkhon Khiri (วัดพระธาตุสุโทนมงคลคีรี). Although a comparatively modern temple, it boasts highly eye-catching structures. The Ubosot in particular is noted for its delicate sculptures with fine designs. There is also the golden teak structure in the Lanna-style which houses valuable relics of the North, including Buddha statues, lacquer ware, Lanna musical instruments, ancient weapons and pictures depicting past events. [edit] Amphoe LongA leading attraction, Kaeng Luang (แก่งหลวง) is located in Tambon Ban Pin, Long district. To get there, go on the Phrae-Lampang road for about 50 kilometres, then take a right turn at Km.69 and continue on for another 7 kilometres. The scenery is lovely and amid the Yom river are rocky formations which create fast-flowing rapids. On the other side of the river, which can be crossed by ferry, and with a 100-metre walk uphill, will be found the Tham Erawan (ถ้ำเอราวัณ) adorned with elephant-and-female-shaped hanging and protruding crops of rock. Amphoe Long, some 40 kilometres from the provincial town on Highway No. 1023, is the site of a centuries-old community since the time of Hariphunchai Period. The local people are skilled in the craft of weaving, both silk and cotton. The art of making the Tin Chok fabric (ผ้าตีนจก) in particular has been handed down from generation to generation. Its design has also been developed to meet with new and different preferences, although the original method has been retained. A fair celebrating the Tin Chok is held annually in Long district around November. There is a huge gold Chedi housing a Holy Relic at Wat Phra That Si Don Kham (วัดพระธาตุศรีดอนคำ). Legend has it that it was built as early as 535 A.D. when the land was under the dominance of the Hariphunchai kingdom. [edit] Amphoe Wang ChinWiang Kosai National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติเวียงโกศัย) is about 70 kilometres from the provincial town in Wang Chin district. It can be reached by taking Highway No. 11 (Phrae-Lampang). Then take a left turn toward Wang Chin district and continue for a further 13 kilometres to reach the turn to the park headquarters. A further 1.5 kilometres on are two waterfalls, the Mae Koeng Luang (น้ำตกแม่เกิ๋งหลวง), one kilometer from the headquarters, and the Mae Koeng Noi (น้ำตกแม่เกิ๋งน้อย), 2 kilometres on foot further on. Streams from the falls flow into the Yom River. [edit] Amphoe Rong KwangAnother interesting cave is Tham Pha Nang Khoi (ถ้ำผานางคอย) which is about 40 kilometres north of town on Highway No. 101 at Km. 59 within Rong Kwang district. A 50 metre-long rail leads to the cave mouth. Along the winding tunnels are strangely-shaped stalactites and stalagmites. At the end of the cave is a stalagmite shaped like a woman holding a small child. In front of the Nang Koi (waiting woman) stone is a heart-shaped stalactite. They are the source of the legend of the love of a woman who waited for her lover until she turned into stone. Amid cool forested area is the Namtok Huai Rong (น้ำตกห้วยโรง). It can be reached by taking Highway No. 101 (Phrae-Rong Kwang) and go on for 60 kilometres northward. Turn left at Km. 78 and proceed on for a further 4 kilometres. [edit] Amphoe SongPhra That Phra Lo (พระธาตุพระลอ) is a 400-year-old Chedi believed to contain the remains of a king named Phra Lo, ruler of Nakhon Maen Suang once located in the vicinity. It is said he died together with his two lovers, Phra Phuean and Phra Phaeng, which gave rise to the legend of folklore. The Chedi itself is at Tambon Ban Klang, Song district on Highway No. 103 some 45 kilometres north of the provincial town. Mae Yom National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติแม่ยม) is about 70 kilometres from Mueang Phare. The terrain is mountainous with deciduous and rich teak forests, probably the densest in the country. Along the Yom River in front of the camping area of the park are the Kaeng Sua Ten rapids (แก่งเสือเต้น), a two-kilometre-long stretch of rock formations and best visited during November-February when the weather is cool and the scenery at its loveliest. Visitors may camp along the river banks. [edit] Do[edit] BuyMo Hom (ม่อฮ่อม) is a well-known hand-crafter material made in Phrae. Considered a quality product, it is made mainly at Ban Ton Hong using traditional methods in the weaving, dyeing and tailoring processes. Another famous product is Pha Tin Chok (ผ้าตีนจก), a fine and well-made material with distinctive design Apart from being widely used as material to make dresses, today it is also used to make items such as hand-bags, shoes, household decorative items, etc. The main production centre is in Long, Wang Chin and Den Chai districts. [edit] FestivalThe Phra That Cho Hae Fair (งานประเพณีนมัสการพระธาตุช่อแฮ), held in around March, involves a procession to carry robes to cover the Chedi. The procession follows the Lanna style. All participants are decked out in traditional Lanna attires. [edit] Sleep[edit] Amphoe Mueang Phrae
[edit] Amphoe Den Chai
[edit] Amphoe Long
[edit] Amphoe Wang Chin
for tourist. For more information contact Wiang Ko Sai national Park P.O.Box 1 Amphoe Wang Chin, Phrae 54160 (Tel: 0 5452 2097, 0 1224 0729 Bangkok Tel: 0 2562 0760 www.dnp.go.th [edit] Amphoe Song
[edit] Eat[edit] Amphoe Muang Phrae
[edit] Get out |
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