Phrae

Province

Phrae ( Thai: แพร่ ) is a city ( เทศบาล เมือง แพร่ ) in the Thai province of Phrae. It is the capital of the district ( Amphoe ) Mueang Phrae and Phrae province. The Phrae Province is situated in northern Thailand.

The town has 16,970 inhabitants Phrae (as of 2012).

Geography

Phrae is located about 550 kilometers north of Bangkok, in the valley of Maenam Yom ( Yom River ) that flow to the Chao Phraya River. The city is surrounded by picturesque mountains, it is located in a small central level, mainly rice cultivation is used after the establishment of the Yom dam.

The old town is surrounded by a city wall completely preserved, the moat is fed by the river Huai Mae Khaem, which flows into the Yom Maenam in the north- west. Four historic city gates are preserved, leading to the four directions of the city, in the north of the Pratu Sri Chum, the east Pratu May in the south and west Pratu Chai Pratu Man.

Economy

As Lampang Phrae was the center of the teak industry in the 19th century. Even today there are a large number of houses made ​​of teak wood, the architectural style of many Buddhist temple ( Wat ) is Burmese, as settled many timber merchants from Burma here.

Today the rice farming is an important source of income. Also significant is the production of rattan furniture and textiles, especially the work shirt from grobgewebtem blue jean is made.

History

Phrae is one of the oldest cities founded in Thailand, she goes back to the eleventh century, when it was founded as part of the Hariphunchai kingdom of the Mon. The historical form of the city, an oval earthen walls and a moat is to recognize good today, so that it resembles Stadtgrübdungen of the same period: Lamphun and Lampang.

As an independent principality was also known under the name of Wiang Kosai. For King Mangrai taking the small, previously independent city-state Phrae was a first extension of his kingdom Lan Na. Finally, he fell in the wake of the expansion policy of King Ramkhamhaeng to the Kingdom of Sukhothai.

Attractions

• City walls - almost completely preserved, partly reconstructed
• City Museum - bifaces from the 3rd century BC, a massive golden Buddha head, palm leaf books of Mon
• City pillar ( Lak Mueang ) - a gilded wood pillar in an ornate pavilion, similar in Lampang, indicating the geographical city center. ⊙ 18.143333525278100.13888955111
• Wat Luang ( วัดหลวง ) - Temple of the 14th century with Burmese style elements, in which the monks recite from palm-leaf books. ⊙ 18.145000465556100.1372641325
• Wat Chom Sawan ( วัด จอม สวรรค, Monastery of the highest heaven ) - the finest example of Burmese temple architecture in northern Thailand, built in 1910-1912 It is located northeast just outside the old city.. ⊙ 18.150245872222100.15088975417
• Wat Phrathat Cho Hae ( วัด พระ ธาตุ ช่อ แฮ ) - Buddhist temple ( Wat ) from the early 14th century, around ten kilometers south-west of Phrae in nordthailändisch - Burmese style, with a very revered Buddha statue; the pagoda ( Chedi ) is about 33 meters high and completely covered with gold leaf. In Thai folk Buddhism, he is a popular pilgrimage destination for people who are born in the Year of the Tiger. ⊙ 18.08695406100.20449638361
• Phae Mueang Phi ( วนอุทยาน แพะ เมือง ผี ) - experience of nature in the form of impressive eroded rock formations, some of which locals suspect that they are inhabited by spirits ( Mueang Phi means something like "place of spirits" )

Local festivals

• Prathat Cho Hae Festival - Febreuar or March, processions traditional style, performances by local artists
• Salak Luang - November processions of traditional style with the colorful native costumes and music with competition in traditional dances; the devout Buddhists dedicate gifts they offer to the monks of Wat Luang