Phrae province is home to several old Buddhist monuments. The most revered is the centuries-old Phra That Cho Hae, which is believed to contain a relic of the Buddha. The grand stupa is located in its namesake temple, which sits atop a small hill, 10km or so southeast of the provincial town.
Phra That Cho Hae of Phrae is one of the most revered stupas in the North.
Phra That Cho Hae is so iconic there is a saying that unless one comes to pay their respects to the pagoda, one cannot claim to have visited Phrae. The northern town is just an hour and 20 minutes' flight from Bangkok.
Every year, the people of Phrae hold a weeklong festival celebrating their reverence for Phra That Cho Hae. This year, the celebrations kick off tomorrow.
At 3pm an elaborate procession will mark the beginning of the festival. The parade is one of the grandest in the North, featuring hundreds of beautifully dressed local people and elephants, spectacularly showing off various kinds of Lanna art.
During the week, both the daytime and night-time will be filled with prayer sessions and sermons, merit-making and, of course, a variety of entertainment, including traditional performances and a drum beating contest.
As mentioned earlier, Phrae is home to several other temples, among them Wat Phra Bat Ming Muang, Wat Si Bunruang, Wat Phra Non, Wat Phong Sunan and Wat Chom Sawan. The last of these is located a little further away from the town centre but is still worth a visit because it is the only one built in the Thai Yai style.
The old town also boasts many teak houses and mansions that reflect the rich local culture and history, in which logging played a big part. Not to be missed are Khum Chao Luang (the residence of Nan's last ruler), Khum Vichai Racha and Ban Wong Buri.
For more information about the grand celebration at Wat Phra That Cho Hae and anything else you wish to know about travelling in Phrae, call the local office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand on 054-521-118 or visit http://facebook.com/tat.phrae.
