Nan NAN NAN The Pu Man-Ya Man Painting Wat Phumin Contens How to Get There 7 Attractions 8 Amphoe Mueang Nan 8 Amphoe Phu Phiang 17 Amphoe Wiang Sa 18 Amphoe Na Noi 20 Amphoe Na Muen 25 Amphoe Ban Luang 26 Amphoe Tha Wang Pha 27 Amphoe Pua 31 Amphoe Chiang Klang 36 Amphoe Thung Chang 37 Amphoe Chaloem Phra Kiat 38 Amphoe Bo Kluea 40 Amphoe Mae Charim 42 Events and Festivals 44 Local Food 46 Souvenir Shops 48 Interesting Activities 50 Homestay 50 Examples of Tour Programmes 50 Facilities in Nan 55 Accommodations 55 Restaurants 56 Travel Agents 57 Useful Calls 57 Rice Field, Amphoe Pua Nan Thai Term Glossary well as, decided to move the town to the foot of Amphoe: District the mountain. In 1368, the Nan River changed Ao: Bay its course; therefore, Phraya Phakong, son of Ban: Village Phraya Kanmueang, moved the town again to Hat: Beach Ban Huai Khai, on the western side of the Nan Khao: Mountain River, the location of Nan province nowadays. Ko: Island The Nan River, whose origin stems from the Laem: Cape summit of Doi Khun Nam Nan, Tambon Khun Maenam: River Nan, Amphoe Bo Kluea is the life vein of the Mueang: Town or City Nan people. It flows to the north to Amphoe Mu Ko: Group of islands (Archipelago) Thung Chang and runs south towards Amphoe Namtok: Waterfall Pua, Amphoe Tha Wang Pha, Amphoe Mueang Phu: Mountain Nan, and Amphoe Wiang Sa before reaching Tambon: Sub-district other provinces; namely, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, Tham: Cave and Phichit, as well as, joining the Yom River at Ubosot or Bot: Ordination hall in a temple Amphoe Chum Saeng, Nakhon Sawan province, Wihan: Image hall in a temple and the Chao Phraya River at Pak Nam Pho, Nak- Wat: Temple hon Sawan. Forty percent of the water from the Nan nourishes the Chao Phraya River. Note: English spelling here given tries to approximate Thai pronunciation. Posted signs Boundary may be spelled differently. When seeking help North : Lao People’s Democratic Republic from a Thai for direction, point to the Thai South : Uttaradit spellings given after each place name. East : Lao People’s Democratic Republic West : Phrae and Phayao Nan covers an area of 11,472.072 square kilometres or approximately 7 millions rai, Administration located 668 kilometres from Bangkok. It is a Nan’s administration is divided into 15 districts; frontier town of the eastern Lanna Kingdom namely, Amphoe Mueang Nan, Amphoe Wiang with an abundance and mixture of cultures Sa, Amphoe Santi Suk, Amphoe Mae Charim, from the high mountain ranges to the plain. Amphoe Tha Wang Pha, Amphoe Ban Luang, The town was as ancient as the Sukhothai Amphoe Na Noi, Amphoe Pua, Amphoe Song Kingdom and was under the continuous ruling Khwae, Amphoe Chiang Klang, Amphoe Na of 64 kings. It was previously called “Nanthaburi” Muen, Amphoe Thung Chang, Amphoe Bo or “Woranakhon” and was established by Phraya Kluea, Amphoe Chaloem Phra Kiat, and Am- Phukha approximately in the 13th century on a phoe Phu Phiang. plain in Sila Phet sub-district or Pua district at present. In 1359, Phraya Kanmueang received How to Get There the Buddha’s relics from Sukhothai and chose By car: From Bangkok, take Highway No. 32 to Doi Phu Phiang Chae Haeng to house them, as Nakhon Sawan province. Then, take Highway Nan 7 No. 117 until reaching Phitsanulok and continue Amphoe Ban Luang 45 kilometres with Highway No. 11, passing Uttaradit pro- Amphoe Na Noi 60 kilometres vince and Amphoe Den Chai of Phrae province. Amphoe Pua 60 kilometres Proceed by taking Highway No. 101, passing Amphoe Chiang Klang 76 kilometres Phrae to Nan province. The total distance is Amphoe Song Khwae 80 kilometres approximately 668 kilometres. Amphoe Na Muen 80 kilometres By bus: The Bangkok Northern Bus Terminal on Amphoe Thung Chang 98 kilometres Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road (Mo Chit 2) provides Amphoe Bo Kluea 133 kilometres ordinary and air-conditioned buses to Nan everyday. Contact the Transport Company Attractions Limited at Tel. 0 2936 2852-66 or Call Center Amphoe Mueang Nan 1490 www.transport.co.th, Nan Bus Terminal Wat Phumin (วัดภูมินทร์) at Tel. 0 5471 1662, Nan Transport Company is a royal temple, located within the compound Limited at Tel. 0 5471 0027, and other private of the old city called Tambon Nai Wiang at companies providing transportation to Nan; present. It is next to the Nan National Museum. namely, Sombat Tour at Tel. 0 2792 1444, 0 5474 In accordance with the Nan Chronicle, 1666, 0 5471 1077-8, Choet Chai Tour at Tel. Phrachao Chettabut Phrommin, a Nan ruler, 0 2936 0199, 0 5471 1362, and Viriya Phare Tour constructed the temple after he had governed Tel. 0 2936 3720, 0 5474 1600 Nan for 6 years in 1596. It appears in the By train: From the Bangkok Railway Station Northern Scripture that the temple was (Hua Lamphong), get off at Amphoe Den Chai originally called “Wat Phrommin” but later in Phrae and continue by bus to Nan. The total became “Wat Phumin”. distance is 142 kilometres. For further infor- mation, please contact the State Railway of Thailand at Tel. 0 2220 4334, 0 2220 4444, 1690 or www.railway.co.th. By Air: Nok Air provides a Bangkok-Nan flight. Contact Tel. 1318, 0 2900 9955 or www.nokair. com, or the Nan Airport at Tel. 0 5471 0270 for further information. Distances from Amphoe Mueang Nan to other districts and minor district Amphoe Phu Phiang 2 kilometres Amphoe Wiang Sa 25 kilometres Amphoe Santi Suk 32 kilometres Amphoe Mae Charim 38 kilometres Amphoe Chaloem Phra Kiat 40 kilometres Amphoe Tha Wang Pha 43 kilometres “Ran Nam” Painting Wat Phumin 8 Nan Wat Phumin Three hundred years later, Wat Phumin agreed to get married, the ceremony would was under grand renovation during the be organised called “Ao Kham Pai Pong Kan” or reign of King Ananta Woraritthidet in 1867 meaning to become part of the same family. (at the end of the reign of King Rama IV). The Trades within the Community is a painting of renovation took 7 years. The mural paintings the local or the hilltribe people doing “Poe” or in the main assembly hall were painted carrying the merchandise from the forest on during this period. The mural paintings their heads and exchanging them with the or “Hup Taem” in Wat Phumin depict the town people. Buddhist Jataka stories. However, considering The Pu Man-Ya Man Painting is honoured the depiction of the lifestyles of the people as the most beautiful one at Wat Phumin. There in town during that time, there are many is a usage of large pools of red, blue, black, and interesting pictures such as “Yu Khuang dark brown colours similar to contemporary Tradition” of the Tai Lue people. Parents will paintings. The Lifestyle of the Nan people allow the youngsters to meet at the courtyard depicts a woman weaving with a local loom. outside their house during dusk, while the girl Outside the traditional Thai house stands a was spinning cotton or “Yu Khuang”. If the girl small shelter where there are earthen water Nan 9 Wat Phrathat Chang Kham Worawihan pots called “Ran Nam”. Men in this painting have Wat Phrathat Chang Kham Worawihan a traditional Thai hairstyle called Lak Chaeo or (วัดพระธาตุช้างค�้าวรวิหาร) Mahatthai presenting the western influence is on Suriyaphong Road, opposite the Nan combining with the local lifestyle of Nan. The Municipality Office. It was previously called Foreigners presents those who came into Nan “Wat Luang” or “Wat Luang Klang Wiang”, during the reign of King Rama V. Their hair and constructed during the reign of Chaopu costume reflects the popular styles in Europe Khaeng in 1406. It is a royal temple within during that time. the compound of Nan town for the ruler to conduct Buddhist ceremonies and the Oath of The distinguishing point of this temple is its Allegiance Ceremony in accordance with the 4-portico building, the only one in Thailand 74th stone inscription which was discovered which seems to be standing on the back of 2 within the temple. The inscription mentioned Nagas. This building serves as the 3-in-1 ubosot, that Phaya Phonlathep Ruechai, a Nan ruler wihan and the main chedi. The east-west axis is a renovated the main wihan in 1548. wihan, while the north-south one is the ubosot. The Royal Thai Government once printed the The architectural characteristics of the temple picture of Wat Phumin on the 1-Baht banknote reflect the influence of the Sukhothai arts during World War II. Moreover, the Ancient City such as the chedi in the Lankan style (a in Samut Prakan has constructed a replica of this bell shape) whose base is surrounded by wihan as a display within its compound. sculptures of the front half of elephants made of bricks and cement. Five elephant 10 Nan sculptures are on each side and one at every corner. It looks as though they use their back to support or “Kham” the chedi, similar to the characteristic at Wat Chang Lom in Sukhothai province. Within the wihan, “Phra Phuttha Nanthaburi Si Sakkayamuni” is en- shrined. It is a bronze Buddha image, with 65% pure gold, in the posture of forgiveness with a height of 145 centimetres. It is aged around the 14th century or during the late Sukhothai Period. The main Buddha image is very beautiful and large. It was made of lime, representing the Chiang Saen style of art and the skills of Nan craftsmanship.