Meditating murals, Phrae, northern Thailand
Meditating murals, Phrae, northern Thailand
Taken on: 12th November, 2003. Copyright: All Rights Reserved - See travelfishery's page of Flickr
Read more about Phrae
The province of Phrae in the centre of far northern Thailand is steeped in history and natural beauty, with several attractions making it well worth a visit.
The provincial capital Phrae is one of the oldest cities in Thailand. It was originally founded in 828 under the name Muang Phon. Though nominally independent, the city state changed hands on numerous occasions throughout its history. A stint under Burmese rule culminating in the sacking of the city in 1902 by Shan invaders resulted in its last ruler Chao Piriyathapawong fleeing to Luang Prabang, after which Phrae was assimilated into Thailand proper. Traditionally teak has been the province's main industry, though a logging ban in force these days has curtailed this to small-scale furniture-making using salvaged existing wood.
Like many Thai cities, Phrae is split into old and new sections. The new is quite ... Read our complete Phrae travel guide
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