5 Best Sights in Phrae, Northern Thailand

On a hilltop in Tambon Pa Daeng, this late-12th-century temple is distinguished by its 33-meter-tall (108-foot-tall) golden chedi and intriguing interior. The chedi is linked to a viharn, a later construction that contains a series of murals depicting scenes from Buddha's life. The revered Buddha image is said to increase a woman's fertility. Cho Hae is the name given to the cloth woven by the local people, and in the fourth lunar month (June) the chedi is wrapped in this fabric during the annual fair. A fairly steep multi-tier staircase leads up to the temple.

Built in 1892, this former mansion-turned-museum has rooms that are preserved to reflect the living quarters of Phrae's last lord. On display are portraits of the mansion's former residents, antique furniture, coins, texts, and utensils. The mansion was a filming location for the Thai TV drama series, Roy Mai.

Teak plays a prominent role in this beautiful monastery, which was designed by a Burmese architect and built by migrants from the country's Shan state during King Rama V's reign (1868–1910). The bot and viharn combine to make one giant structure, supported by stilts and housing statues made of marble and bamboo.

Phrae's oldest structure lies within the Old City walls. Although the wat was founded in the 12th century, renovations and expansions sometimes obscure so much of the original design that the only section visible from that time is a Lanna chedi with primitive elephant statues. A small museum on the grounds contains sacred Buddha images, swords, and texts.

In a woodland setting about 2 km (1 mile) east of the more famous Wat Phra That Cho Hae, this smaller wat has a chedi said to contain a strand of Lord Buddha's hair. A large standing Buddha stands watch over the gate, and the grounds contain an enormous reclining Buddha.