Nan Province

Nan Province

Wat Chang Kham Wora Vihara, Amphoe Muang Nan

Nan, an ancient city of the Lannathai period during the same time as the Sukhothai Kingdom. In 1282 Phraya Phukha founded the city called Woranakhon in Tambon Silaphet Pau District. The city was then given another name, being known by Nuntaburisrinakhonnan or simply Nan. The province itself is located in the east of the northern region bordering Laos in the north and Chiang Rai and Phayao in the south. The Nan river flows through it.

About 700 years old Nan has an important historical and archaeological background being the home of the Phraputchaturaphak or Buddha image the Phumin temple with old mural painting, the Black Ivory a holy relic hundred of years old, Hom Jorm and and the earthern pole, the Phu Kha National Park, a beautiful area of natural resources, caves, also other antiques at Nan National Museum. The oldest and most famous custom of Nan is the annual boat race. The traditional boat races are held after the end of lent in October. In the remote hills of Nan province, there lives a primitive tribe so untouches by civilisation that they do not till the land and do not use any kind of money "The Mrabri" the tribe who moves from place to place building rough shacks and moving on when the green leaves of their roof turn to yellow.

Nan occupies an area of 11,472.1 square kilometers and is administratively divided into 12 Amphoes and 1 King Amphoe: Muang, Chiang Klang, Thung Chang, Tha Wang Pha, Na Noi, Pua, Wiang Sa, Mae Charim, Ban Luang, Na Mun, Santisuk, Bo Klua and King Amphoe Song Khwae, located 668 kms. from Bangkok.

Tourist Attractions and Places of Interest :

Amphoe Muang

Wat Phumin

Wat Chang Kham Wora Vihara

Other Amphoe

Doi Phu Kha National Park (Amphoe Pua)

Namtok Sila Pet (Amphoe Pua)

Salt mine at Amphoe Bo Klua (Amphoe Bo Klua)

Sao Din (Earth Pillars) (Amphoe Na Noi)

Ban Pak Nai (Amphoe Na Mun)

Wat Si Klang Wiang (Amphoe Wiang Sa)

Tham Pha Mong and Tham Pha Wiang

Mu Ban Thai Lu (Amphoe Tha Wang Pha)

Pha Tup Forest Park (Amphoe Tha Wang Pha)

Doi Pha Chi (Amphoe Ban Luang)

Wat Nong Bua

How to get there

By Car : Take Bangkok-Nakhon Sawan-Phitsanulok-Uttaradit-Denchai-Phraw-Nan Highway for 668 kms.

By Bus : Both air and non air-condinationed buses leave Bangkok Nan from the Northern Bus terminal, Phonyothin Road. Please contact telephone number (66 2) 272-5299 (air-condinationed bus) and (66 2) 272-0295 (non air-condinationed bus).

By Train : There are no trains going to Nan. One may travel by train to Denchai (Phrae province) and take a local bus to Nan, some 146 kms. away. For more details please contact Bangkok Railway Station Tel. (66 2) 223-7010, 223-7020.

By Plane : Thai Airways International Ltd. (Domestic) flies daily to Phitsanulok-Phraw-Nan. For more information please contract Tel. (66 2) 280-0070-90.

Mural painting of silk weaving at Ubosod Wat Phumin

Lanna mural painting is a form of art developed by the Lanna people who inhabited northern Thailand more than 500 years ago. The paintings tell stories about the history, culture, and lifestyle of the people.

Lanna culture proliferated in the provinces of Lampang, Lamphun, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phrae, Nan and Phayao. In these provinces most old temples have mural paintings, many of which have been restored. Temples whose maral paintings are either still intact or have been restored include Wat Phrathat Lampangluang in Lampang, Wat Phumin in Nan, and Wat Phrasingh in Chiang Mai.

Tourist Attractions and Places of Interest

Amphoe Muang

Phrathat Khao Noi

This pagoda is situated on the top of Khao Noi Hill, Ban Khu Nai, 2 kms. west of the Provincial Hall. The hill is 800 feet high having an access road to the hill top.

Tham Pha Mong and Tham Pha Wiang

These caves are located 10 kms. from Amphoe Wiang Sa township area on the road Amphoe Na Noi where a 300 meter access road branches off to the caves, through the hilly terrain. Beautiful stalactite and stalagmite formations are seen inside the caves.

Sao Din (Earth Pillars) and Khok Sua

Sao Din (Earth Pillars) and Khok Sua, a geographical attraction 5 kilometers away from Amphoe Na Noi along the same route to Pha Choet Chu.

Namtok Sila Pet

This is regarded a very beautiful waterfall, located in Tambon Sila Pet Amphoe Pua.

Pha Tup Forest Park

This arboretum is located 12 kms. from the provincial community on Highway No. 1080. There are several caves in the arboretum area worth visiting by nature lovers.

Wat Nong Bua

Located at Ban Nong Bua, Wat Nong Bua was built by Thai Lu people migrated from Sib Song Pan Na Province in South China. The mural paintings here are believed to be the work by Thai Lu or Nan painters, the paintings' artistic style is almost the same as those at Wat Phumin. Within its precincts, the rite hall or Bot, about 250 years old, lies in deteriorated condition.

Mu Ban Thai Lu

Situated at Ban Nong Bua, Tambon Pa Kha, Amphoe Tha Wang Pha, the village is accessible by driveng along Highway 1148 for 43 kilometers to Amphoe Tha Wang Pha, then further to Ban Nong Bua for another 12 kilometers. Here, the famous Nam Lai hand-woven fabric is produced. Almost every house in the village owns a loom by which the villagers weave fabric for their household use and also for sale. Products made from the village's hand-woven cloth, for example, skirt, blouse, tube skirt, and scarf are produced for sale by a group of farmer housewives.

Ban Pak Nai

A vilage in Amphoe Na Mun, 96 kilometers from the provincial town along the Nan-Wiang Sa-Na Noi route and another 20 kilometers along a branch road from Na Noi. From here, a winding dirt road runs along the hillside for another 22 kilometers to Ban Pak Nai, a lakeside fishery village upstream of Sirikit Dam. There are floating food shops among verdant, mountainous scenery, some of them also provide accommodation service for visitors.

Doi Pha Chi

A mountain on the Highway no.1091, Nan-Phayao route, some 40 kilometers from the provincial town to Amphoe Ban Luang, with a branch road running for another 30 kilometers via Ban Pi Nua to Doi Pha Chi. This forested mountain is still in perfect natural condition. The area was once an enemy base of which some basic infrastructure like electricity generator and waterwork system are still left behind. In nearby area, village of Mong and Yao hilltribes are located.

Nan Boat Racing

After Buddhist Lent, which falls on the end of October or the beginning of November, of every year, boat racing festival takes place in the Nan River in front of the provincial community. This is regarded a big fair where several long boats, carved out of one single tree trunk, participate in the racing and it is promoted by the Province, as an annual fair of Nan.

Elephant riding an essential part of eco-tourism in Amphoe Wiang Sa and Na Noi

NAN CITY MAP

TOURIST MAP OF NAN

Information

: Tourism Authority of Thailand Tourist Service Center
: Hotel & Resorts in Nan