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Attractions
Namtok
Pha Sua Namtok
Pha Sua
is
in Tambon Mokchampae about 17 kilometres from the provincial seat on Route 1095
to Pai district with a left turn at Ban Rak Thai village. The waterfall is a further twenty kilometres
from the village. It is a large fall
with its water source in Myanmar. Pha
Sua runs full during the late rainy season (August-September). Another
five kilometres further on along the path to high hill are the hilltribe villages
of Na Pa Paek and Mae Or on the Thai-Burmese border. |
Phraya
Singhanatracha Memorial
Phraya Singhanatracha Memorial
commemorates
the first Chao Muang (governor) of Mae Hong Son. A Thai Yai native from Burma, he was regarded
by the people as the governor of Khun Yuam, which was to the south of Mae Hong
Son. Later, he was officially installed
as the Chao Muang of Mae Hong Son by the King of Lanna in 1874. |
Thai
Yai Architecture Thai Yai Architecture
can be seen
in most temples. Although a part of the Lanna region, the indigenous Thai Yai
or Tai people living there are faced with very cold weather during winter and
extremely hot weather in the summer, with mist or fog practically throughout the
whole year. Not surprisingly
they have had to adapt to the environment.
As a result, their architectural style has developed into something different
from other Lanna communities. Their
living quarters are usually built with tall floors and low roofs, the sizes differing
according to one’s social status and position. Homes of the ordinary folks are usually
with one single level of roof, while those of the local aristocrats have two or
more levels forming a castle-like shape.
The space thus provided is believed to help air circulation. An interesting feature of the Thai Yai
style is the perforated designs along the eaves which are an architectural identity
of the area. |
Tham
Pla Forest Park About
17 kilometres from town on Highway No. 1095 (Mae Hong Son-Pai) is Tham Pla
Forest Park
. The surrounding areas are
brooks and cool hilly forests suitable for relaxation.
A special feature is the hollow cave filled with Phluang fish, which is
of the same family as the carp. The
fish are quite safe from being caught as they are believed to belong to the gods. |
The
Pha Bong Hot Spring The
Pha Bong Hot Spring
is
located on Highway No. 108, about 11 kilometres from town. There are facilities for mineral water
bath for health purpose. |
Wat
Chong Kham An
old temple, Wat Chong Kham is
located on the bank of the swamp Nong Chong Kham and was built in 1827 by Thai
Yai artisans. The pillars are gilded
in golden flakes. The temple houses
a large Buddha statue with a lap width of 4.85 metres cast by Burmese craftsmen. The principal statue is another statue
which is a replica of the statue in Wat Suthat in Bangkok. |
Wat
Chong Klang
Next
to Wat Chong Kham is Wat Chong Klang where
a replica of the Phra Buddha Sihing is installed on an altar. There are several interesting items such
as wooden figurines of human and animals depicted in the Phra Vejsandon Jakata
(pronounced Cha-dok which means one of odd stories of former incarnations of the
Buddha) created by Burmese craftsmen and brought over in 1857, painting on glass
about the Jakata and on Prince Siddhartha, as well as on the ways of life of the
time. The captions are in Burmese. There are also notations that the paintings
were by Thai Yai artisans from Mandalay. |
Wat
Hua Wiang
Wat Hua Wiang or
Wat Klang Muang on Sihanat Bamrung Road next to the Morning Market
was built in 1863. It houses the
Phra Chao Pharalakhaeng, a Buddha statue dressed in beautiful attire. It is a replica of a major statue in Mandalay,
Myanmar. |
Wat
Kam Ko Opposite
Wat Phra Non is Wat Kam Ko ,
an old temple built in 1890. A special
architectural feature is the cover over the passageway from the entrance arch
to the Burmese-style Vihara* (Vihara means an edifice housing a a principal Buddha
image of the temple). It also stores
text in Thai Yai script chronicling the Thai Yai history. |
Wat
Phra Non At
the foot of Doi Kong Mu is Wat Phra Non ,
which houses a 12-metre long Reclining Buddha in the Tha Yai style cast in 1875
by Phra Nang Miah, wife of Phraya Singhanatracha. Another main feature of the temple is
the two large sculpted lions lying side by side, presumably providing the passage
for those going up to pay homage to the Kong Mu Holy Relic on the hill. |
Wat
Phra That Doi Kong Mu Wat
Phra That Doi Kong Mu ,
located on a hill to the west of town, is a major provincial landmark. There are two Burmese-style Chedis (pagodas).
The larger one was built in 1860 while the smaller one was erected in 1874.
A panoramic view of Mae Hong Son can be enjoyed from the site. |
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