Wat Phrathat Chohae - Phrae / วัดพรธาตุช่อแฮ - แพร่

Phrae is one of the most ancient cities in Thailand , an old establishment having been founded in the same period as Sukhothai and Chiang Mai. The town was built over 800 years ago, allegedly by Thai Kern and Tai Lue people. It is laced with romance and enchants visitors with the famous love legends called "Phra Lor" and "Phu Chana Sibtid". The former name was Wiang Kosai, which means Silk Cloth. This province is quite a prosperous province due to lucrative coal mining and, until recently, logging businesses. The town is popular as a manufacturing centre for rattan furniture and the indigo dyed farmers' shirts which are worn all over Thailand as a symbol of solidarity with rural Thai life.

The province of Phrae may be somewhat off the beaten track, but its undiscovered treasures are well worth noting is the annual Rocket Festival, which marks the beginning of the rice growing season in May.

One of the attractions of Phrae is its eclectic blend of temple architecture. Traditional Lanna architecture, with its multi-tiered roofs, is seen side by side with examples of Burmese and Lao temple architecture.

Phrae has an overall area of 6,538.6 square kilometers, and is administratively divided into 8 Amphoes (Districts) : Amphoe Muang, Rong Kwang, Wang Chin, Song Long, Sung Men, Den Chai and Nongmuang Khai; located 555 kilometers from Bangkok.




Wat Phrathat Chohae is the most famous temple in Phrae. It is located in Muang District on a hill outside of the town, about 9 kms. to the east. It is currently being renovated 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 center. It is one of the oldest temples in the province and was built in 1331 B.C.




Phrathat Cho Hae , 3The people is located at Tambon Pa Daeng, 9 kms. from Phrae town, and coated with thin Dok Buad gold sheet, having the height of 33 meters, width of each side of the base of 10 meters. The name Cho Hae is derived from a kind of grade satin, woven from Sib Song Panna Kingdom , wrapped around the pagoda by the villagers as an offering. Annual fair worshipping the pagoda takes place on the middle of the fourth lunar month (sixth northern month) of every year.