The former center of Thailand’s teak industry, Phrae features
many old teak mansions as well as protected forests ideal for hiking
and spotting exotic wildlife.
An old and important community of Northern Thailand, Phrae
was founded after Chiang Mai had been established as the capital of
the Lanna Thai kingdom. Phrae contains one of the largest reserves
of teak forests in the country and is located on the banks of the Yom
River, 555 kilometers north of Bangkok
Like Chiang Mai, Phrae retained its fortified old city, while the
new city grew around it. While the new city is charming enough,
the old one contains sleepy alleyway lined with teak houses that are
outstanding examples of traditional Thai architecture and a number
of beautiful temples. Many of these immense teak mansions were
constructed by European traders who were engaged in the teak trade
back in the 19th century.
Phrae is a province steeped in legend and that’s no surprise
as the city was founded around the same time as the Lanna and
Sukhothai Kingdoms nearly 800 years ago. Renowned for its vast
teak forests, Phrae features a number of colonial style teak homes
and mountainous forests including three national parks. There are
a number of hill tribe communities in the countryside as well as
villages where traditional handicrafts are produced. Those looking
to expand their knowledge of the local culture can even spend some
time at the local folklore museum or explore the quiet alleyways of
the city’s old town, where many old and beautiful temples and teak
mansions can be found.
Credit :: Amazing Thailand
