Phrae

The province of Phrae is located in the centre of far northern Thailand and has a number of attractions making it well worth your time to visit as the area is steeped in history and natural beauty.

The provincial capital Phrae is one of the oldest cities in Thailand -- 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 the recent logging ban 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 uninteresting, but the old is packed with traditional Thai architecture in the form of beautiful teak houses, eclectic wats and quiet lanes worth spending a few hours wandering through. The proliferation of large, colonial-style teak mansions date to the 19th century when many European traders set up business here for the teak trade.

 

If you're looking for something to buy other than a teak mansion, 'Made in Phrae' is a well-known phrase for the indigo dyed cotton worker's shirts you see all over Thailand. Phrae is where the best originate.

The surrounding area possesses large stretches of teak-covered mountains which are now protected, national parks, hilltribe villages and the bizarre soil pillars at Phae Muang Phi -- if you've the time, it is an interesting region to explore.

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