Phrae is one of the most ancient cities in Thailsnd, an old establishment having been founded in the same period as Sukhothai and Chang Mai. The town was built over 800 years ago, allegedly by Tai Kern and Tai Lue people. It is laced with romance and enchants visitors with the famous lobe legends called “Phra Lor” and “phu Chana sibtid.: The former name wad Wiang Kosai, which meand : Silk Cloth.”

Phrae has an overall area of 6,558.6 square kilometers, and is administratively divided into 8 Amphoes (Districts): Amphoe Muang, Tong Kwang, Wang chin, Song, Long,Sung Men, Den Chai and Nong Muang Khai. The municipality is located 555 kilometers from Bangkok

Is the most famous temple in Phrae. It is located in the Muang District on a hill outside the town, about 9 Kms to the east. It is currently being renobated by the Fine Arts Department. Also of great interest is Wat Phrathat Chorm Jaeng, an ancient temple which is sometimes called “the temple of predawn” and is located on Doi Tong hill, about 12 kms away from the town centre. It is one of the oldest temples in the province and was built in 1331 B.C. Other Chedis (pagodas) of interest include Wat Luang, Wat Srabo Kaew, and seberal Laotian style temples, such as Wat Sri Chum, Wat Pong Sunan, Wat Phra Non and Wat Phra Bat Ming Muang

MAE YOM NATIONAL PARK       Is 20 kms from song District. There are natural resources of ecological importance, be autiful flora and fauna, andespecially,the wonderful rapids spillin over a wide exposure of primarily Basalt rock. The sharp and eroded basalt becomes such a great beauty, it is called “Kaeng Sut Ten” (river rocks) by native legend. Visitors can go on a picnic, relax or camp in this charming area. There is a natural creation on the top of a big hill called “Lom Dong”. It’s a big swamp that has retained water for years. Geologists surmise that Lom Dong was formed by the action of the earth’s crust. The swamp area is enriched by a valuable teak forest nearby. The forest It calles “The Most Beautiful Teak Forest.

      This cave is 200 metres inlength, and naturally

decorated with beautiful stalagmites and stalactites. One of the stalagmites looks like a woman holding her baby. Villagers call it “Nang Koi” (lady waits). This is the scene of a great legendary love story abput Song Kingdom. The princess fell pregnent to a common soldier and she was then punished and put in jail while and she was pregnant. The common soldier, her husband, went to help and took her to hide in this cave. He was killed when he went out to find food. She sat holding her baby and waited for her husband until her boby turned to rock.

       Is a very beautiful island in the Mae Song Reservoir. Trees and grasses, that were submerged, have become on appropriate habitat for many species of

Dragon-fly. The environmental beauty of the water depths and upthrust hills is enhanced by the lovely roving dragon-flies.

By Car Take the Bangkok-Nakhon Sawan-Phitsanulok-Denchai-Phrae Highway for 555 kilometres.

By Bus The 9 hour journey from Bangkok can be made on airconditioned coaches and non-airconditioned buses originating from the

Northern Bus Terminal on Bangkok’s Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road (Tel:2171101-5 for further details).

By Rail The State Railways of Thailand operate daily services from Bangkok’s Hualampong Railway Station, including a popular overnight sleeper to Denchai District. Then take a local bus to Phrae, some 20 kms away. Telephone Bangkok 223-7010 or 233-7020 for further infornation.

By Air Thai Airways (Tel:Bangkok/Lan Luang 200-0100-110,

silom 234-3100-19, Asia Hotel 215-2020) operates daily flights from Bangkok to Phitsanulok-Phrae