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Wat Luang on Kham Lue Road in town is an ancient
and principal temple built at the same time Phrae was established.
Several restoration works have taken place. Some of its major features
include the Vihan 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.
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This temple 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 houses 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.
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To the west of Wat Luang is Wat Phra
Non 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 Wihan are all fretted, a symbol of northern architecture.
lnside is a 9 metre-long plaster Reclining Buddha.
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is a 400-year-old Chedi believed to contain the remain 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 Phuan and Phra Phaeng, which gave rise to the
legend of a folklore. The Chedi itself is at Tambon Ban
Klang, Song District on Highway No. 103 some 45 kilometres
north or the provincial town.
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is in Song district 48 kilometres from town. 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, a two-kilometre-long stretch of rock formations
and best visited during November-February when the weather
is cool and scenery at its loveliest. Visitors may camp
along the river banks.
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Another interesting cave is Tham
Pha Nang Khoi 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 Huai Rong Waterfall. 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.
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Locates in Tambon Nam Rat of Nong Muang Khai district in Tham Cham Pu, some 17 kilometres from town and with a further distance of 8 kilometres after a left turn. Within the cave is a large hall-like chamber with smaller rooms connected by tunnels. It is beautiful adorned with glittering stalactites and stalagmites.
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is about 70 kilometres from the provincial town in Wang Chin district. It can be reached by taking Highway No. 11 (Prae-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, 1 kilometres from the headquarters, and the Mae Koeng Noi, 2 kilometres on foot further on. Streams from the falls flow into The Yom River.
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There is a huge gold Chedi housing a Holy Relic at Wat Phra That Si Don Kham. Legend has it that it was built as early as 535 A.D. when the land was under the dominance of the Hariphunchai kingdom.
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some 45 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 Teen Jok fabric 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 Teen Jok is held annually in Long district around November.
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A leading attraction, Kaeng Luang 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 Erawan Cave adorned with elephant-and-female-shaped hanging and protruding crops of rock.
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3 kilometres from Den Chai district, or some 2 kilometres from the provincial town, is Wat Phra That Suthon Mongkhon Khiri. 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.
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Some 700 metres off Highway No. 101 at Ban Hua Dong is Wat Phra Luang. It features a Sukhothai-style Chedi and is referred to by the local people as "That Neong", meaning the leaning Chedi.
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About 9 kilometres to the south of town on Highway No. 101 in Sung Men district is the Hua Dong Market. It is the centre of products made from wood and rattan, mostly household furnitures and decorative items.
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in the same compound as the Ban Fai garden restaurant three kilometres from town on the Phrae-Sung Men road, is made up of several buildings and wooden structures displaying exhibits on the local way of life. The different types of wooden houses demonstrate the different statuses of the local people. There are also market and shop houses of the past.
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is about 4 kilometres from the Phrae town hall on Highway No. 101. Governor of the town during 1897-1902, he was slain by rebelling Shan tribemen 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.
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Three kilometres from Phra that Cho Hae is Wat Phra That Chom Chaeng, some 10 kilometres from town. Built in the year 788, the name of the builder was unknown. The golden Chedi is 19 metres tall and enshrines a Holy Relic. There is also a Museum of rare ancient relics.
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A small, 2-level waterfall, Nam Tok Mae Khaem 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 Nam Tok Tat Mok, which is about 22 kilometres from town.
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About 12 kilometres out of town, and with a further 6 kilometres after a right turn, is the Phae Muang Phi 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.
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at Tambon Thin of Muang district is a village which collects and exchanges second-hand household utensils for daily use. It also sells silver products.
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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.
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About 4 kilometres away on Highway No. 101 (Phrae-Nan) is Ban Thung Hong a village noted for the making of product made from Mo Hom material. It is a local cotton fabric dyed in blue which is used in making native and modern wears.
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Just one kilometre from the town hall on Yantrakit Koson Road is Wat Chom Sawan 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 fret works. 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.
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Located on Nam Khu Road next to the city moats is Wat Sa Bo Kaeo 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.
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situated on Khum Doem 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.
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Iocated on Charoen Nakhon Road near the town hall was
built in 1995 by combining two ancient temples. There is
an old Chedi containing a replica of the Holy Footprint
inside.
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