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PHRAE

Amphoe Meung

Wat Chorm Sawan is located in town and features one of the Burmese - style temples built during the reign of King Rama V under the direction of a Burmese architect. It took 5 years to build and contains Buddhist inscriptions. It is considered the most beautiful structure in the Lanna region. Besides it's structural beauty, it contains 2 rare and unique holy artifacts. There is the ivory Buddhist bible (teachings) which is carved in Burmese on 16 sheets of ivory. There is also a Buddha basket made of bamboo, and covered with sheets of gold. This may be the only one of its kind left in the country. Wat Luang and Museum is located in town, and was built at the same time that the town was founded. Wat Luang means big or grand temple. A cultural center, on the grounds are several revered ruins like the holy pagoda, and a venerable Buddha statue. This Buddha is graceful and built in the Chiang Saen style. There is also a museum containing many valuable and holy relics and antiques such as Buddha images, porcelain objects, and ancient swords and armor. The museum is open only Saturday from 09.00 A.M. - 04.00 P.M. Wat Phrathat Chohae is the most famous temple in Phrae. It is located in Muang District on a hill outside of the town, about 9 kms. to the east. It is currently being renovated by the Fine Arts Department. Also of great interest is Wat Phrathat Chorm Jaeng, an ancient temple which is sometimes called "the temple of predawn" and is located on Doi Tong hill, about 12 kms. away from the town center. It is one of the oldest temples in the province and was built in 1331 B.C. Wat Sa Bor Kaew is situated on Namkue Road near the moat of the town. This temple has an exotic and beautiful pagoda. The marble Buddha image is also in Burmese style. It is a very splendid temple. Pha Tab Jai House Located in town is the biggest-Thai-style house constructed with over 130 teak logs in 1976. Each log is about 300 years old. Inside are elaborate northern-style woodcarving. Open daily from 08.00 A.M. - 4.00 P.M. with charge of 10 Baht per person, Tel. (054) 511008. Vongburi House is locted in town, and was built in 1897 by Phra Buritah who was the past lord of Phrae for presentation to his daughter: Chao Sunantha and son in law : Luang Pongpiboon. The house is now still in family hands. It is a teak 2 - storey Thai - European style fine architectural house. An outstanding feature is elaborate woodcarving decorations both inside and outside. These woodcarving were originally built with the house. Inside the house are the family's old descended household articles e.g. furniture, silverware, earth ware, and important documents. The house was awarded "an excellent conservation of the year 1993" by the Society of Siam Architecture under Royal Patronage and published in famous magazines e.g. Tourism Authority of Thailand Magazine, Sawasdee, Heritage Home of Thailand etc. The house is open to the public daily from 8.30 A.M to 5.00 P.M. with a permission charge of 20 Baht/person. Pong Sri Village is located on highways No. 101 near the Rong Fong village. It is known for its extraordinary antique shops and a Batik silk factory. Rong Fong Village is only 6 kms. from town. As soon as you arrive, you can hear the sound of metal being worked in every home. There are 662 families in Rong Fong Village, and 90% of the men work as blacksmiths making knives, hand scythes, picks and spades. Also 95% of the women are seamstress making pants, and shirts. Local Museum Near the town on Phrae-Sung Men road, in the same area as Baan Fai restaurant, that museum is a replica of the houses of the people existing about 100 years ago. Tung Hong Village This is a village located in Muang district area about 3 kms. away on highway No. 101. It is renowned for its good quality "Mohom" farmer shirts in cotton fabric, the favorite local product purchased by tourists in Phrae. Phae Muang Phi is regarded as Thailand's Grand Canyon and is located about 18 kms. from the town on highway 101. Muang Phi (Thai meaning "the City of Ghosts") is noted for its fantastic rock formations. Some local villagers still believe that this area is haunted by phantoms. It is a quiet place and nobody wants to live around here. However, it is well worth a visit for those who appreciate spectacular natural rock formations. Muang Phi is actually a shallow depression in the ground where soil erosion has produced strange chimnet-like shapes that gives the impression of dwelling on some alien planet.

Amphoe Long

Doi Phaklong National Park is located on the side of highway No.1023 about 20 kms. from Amphoe Muang. The National Park contains many places of interest such as : Coral Park Mountain This is otherwise called Rong Hin Tak and is located at Doi Phaklong 18 kms. from Phrae. Coral Park Mountain was caused by the Earth's movement and up thrust with sculpting erosion over billions of years since the birth of the Earth. Erawan Cave not far from Kangluang is also a place of interest. Erawan Cave is regarded a wonderful place. To visit this cave, you must cross the Mae Yom River and go on foot, climbing up the mountains about 200 meters. It is like a wide hall with high ceiling and beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. One huge rock looks like the Erawan Elephant. Standing at the entrance of the cave, it is cool and comfortable. Apart from Kangluang and Erawan Cave, if we cross Mae Yom River and walk for 2 kms., there is a range of hilltribe villages. The fascinating hilltribe culture includes costumes, music dancing crafts and ghost gates. Teenjok Weaving Cloth Villages Produce intricate and beautiful designs both in cotton and silk. This cottage industry may be found in homes throughout Baan Natum, Baan Namon and Baan Hua Thung. Hat Wang Ngeon A sandy beach which is above Kangluang, is the starting point to float a raft of logs down the Mae Yam River to Kangluang. Kangluang is a large deep pond carved out by the Mae Yom River. It refills annually with monsoon overflow. The river hurls spray into the air as it strikes a rock hill mid stream. With a mountain background, it is a most scenic site. Maharat Rocks Garden Located at Doi Phaklong National Park office. It is a bare and wide area having many shapes of rock large and small (like lunar surface). There is a hall for relaxation and food shops for refreshments.

Amphoe Rong Kwan

Huay Rong Waterfall This attractive three-leveled large waterfall, is located in the area of Amphoe Rong Kwang on Phrae-Nan road 81 kms. from Amphoe Muang. Besides this waterfall, there are some others such as, Ngoen and Sao Wa waterfalls which are the favorites of tourists in general. Pha Nang Koi Cave This cave is 200 meters in length, and naturally decorated with beautiful stalagmites and stalactites. One of the stalagmites looks like a woman holding her baby. Villagers call it "Nang Koi" (lady waits). This is the scene of a great legendary love story. Song kingdom she was later punished and put in jail while she was pregnant. The common soldier went to help and took her to hide in this cave. He was killed when he went out to find food. she sat holding her baby and waited for her husband until her body became rock.

Amphoe Song

Dragon-fly Island is a very beautiful island in the Mae Song Reservoir. Trees and grasses, that were submerged, became appropriated habitat for many species of Dragon-fly. The environmental beauty of water depths and upthurst hills is enhanced by the lovely roving dragon-flies. Mae Song Reservior is the largest reservoir in Phrae. It is 12 kms. to the north of Amphoe Song. There is a very beautiful mixed decidious forest. The hills surrounding the reservoir are very scenic the highest hill is "Pha Pee Pha Nong", a prominent cliff at the edge of the peaceful, deep, clean and clear Mae Song Reservoir. The reservoir capacity is about 65.8 million of cubic meters. Mae Yom National Park is about 272 square kilometers. Its about 20 kms. from Amphoe Song. There are natural resources of ecological importance, beautiful flora and fauna, and especially ecological the wonderful rapids spilling over a wide exposure of primarily Basalt rock. The sharp and eroded basalt becomes such a great beauty, it is called "Kaeng Sur Ten" by the native legend. Visitors can go on a picnic, relax or camp in this nice area. There is a natural creation on the top of a big hill called "Lom Dong". It's a big swamp that still keeps water for years. Geologists surmise that Lom Dong was formed by action of the earth's crust. The swamp area is enriched by a valuable teak forest nearby. It is also called "The Most Beautiful Teak Forest". Thart-Pra-Lor is the important ancient remains in Amphoe Song. According to a legend, literary information, and archaeological evidence, it's inferred that Thart-Pra-Lor is the site where a great love was commemorated in funeral flames. Memorialized are the principal actor and actresses of the Thai literature, Li-Li-Pra-Lor, Pra-Lor and the two sisters, Pra-Puean and Pra-Paeng. Their love triangle ended with sadness the same as Shakespeare's literary Romeo and Juliet.

Amphoe Sung Men

Hua Dong Market Located in Amphoe Sung men is a center of woodcarving and other teakwood products. Mae Man Reservoir is 20 kms. from Amphoe Muang following to Phrae-Den Chai road. It is a big reservoir and especially, beautiful in the early morining when the sun is rising.

Amphoe Wang Chin

Wiang Kosai National Park is located, on highway No. 1023 about 80 kms. from Amphoe Muang. The National Park contains many attractions such as:- Mae Kerng Luang Waterfall which is a large waterfall with 7 levels and drops 213 meters from first to last level. Pang Pa Kluay Waterfall is a medium waterfall on the way to Hope a Forest. There is a Nature Study Camp site for up to 300 students and visitor accommodations.