Phrae

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title: "Phrae" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["populated-places-in-phrae-province", "cities-and-towns-in-thailand"] topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phrae" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

Field	Value
official_name	เมืองแพร่

| | other_name | | | pushpin_map | Thailand | | settlement_type | Town | | image_skyline | {{Photomontage | | photo1a | 3.จวนผู้ว่าราชการจังหวัดแพร่.JPG | | photo2a | Vongburi House5.jpg | | photo2b | จอมสวรรค์2.jpg | | photo3a | 4.วัดหลวง.JPG | | photo3b | วัดหัวข่วง.jpg | | size | 270 | | position | center | | spacing | 2 | | color | transparent | | border | 0 | | subdivision_type | Country | | subdivision_name | Thailand | | subdivision_type1 | Provinces | | subdivision_name1 | Phrae Province | | subdivision_type2 | Amphoe | | subdivision_name2 | Mueang Phrae | | area_total_km2 | 9 | | population_total | 15,316 | | population_as_of | 2019 | | population_density_km2 | auto | | coordinates | | | elevation_m | 159 | | timezone | ICT | | utc_offset | +7 | | website | https://www.phraecity.go.th/event.php | | native_name | แพร่ | | name | Phrae | ::

::callout[type=note] the town Phrae ::

| official_name = เมืองแพร่

| other_name = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map = Thailand | pushpin_map_caption = | settlement_type = Town | image_skyline = {{Photomontage | photo1a = 3.จวนผู้ว่าราชการจังหวัดแพร่.JPG | photo2a = Vongburi House5.jpg | photo2b = จอมสวรรค์2.jpg | photo3a = 4.วัดหลวง.JPG | photo3b = วัดหัวข่วง.jpg | size = 270 | position = center | spacing = 2 | color = transparent | border = 0 | foot_montage = | image_caption = | image_map = | map_caption = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Thailand | subdivision_type1 = Provinces | subdivision_name1 = Phrae Province | subdivision_type2 = Amphoe | subdivision_name2 = Mueang Phrae | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | unit_pref = | area_total_km2 = 9 | population_total = 15,316 | population_as_of = 2019 | population_density_km2 = auto | coordinates = | leader_title = | elevation_ft = | elevation_m = 159 | timezone = ICT | utc_offset = +7 | website = https://www.phraecity.go.th/event.php | native_name = แพร่ | name = Phrae Phrae (; ; ) is a town (thesaban mueang) and capital of Phrae Province and Mueang Phrae district. It is located in Northern Thailand on the east bank of the Yom river, 555 km north of Bangkok by road.

The town occupies tambon Nai Wiang of Mueang Phrae District and has an area of nine km2 with a population of 15,316 (2019). The town is known for its rich history, textile industry and temple architecture, as well as offering a blend of both Isan and Lan Na culture and cruisine.

The town was first established in 1371. During the late 1800s, Phrae served as a major center for the teak trade, with numerous foreign companies operating around the town. Before centralization reforms by King Chulalongkorn were untertakened, Phrae served as the capital of the Kingdom of Phrae and the seat of the royal family of Phrae. In 1902, the town served as the center for the Shan-led Ngiao rebellion, which aimed to overthrow Central Thai rule over Lan Na before being crushed. Central Thai authority over Phrae was reestablished on 16 August 1902.

History

| pic = Lanna- Thai Phrae.svg | picsize = 160px | piccap = "Phrae" in Thai language (top) and Northern Thai with Tai Tham script (bottom) | tha = แพร่ | rtgs = Phrae | lang1 = Northern Thai | lang1_content = (Phae) Phrae was constructed during the Sukhothai period. One of the earliest temples to be constructed in Phrae was Wat Phra That Cho Hae around 1336-1338 during the Sukhothai period. During the 1500s, the town served as an outpost controlled by the Kingdom of Lan Na.

1800s and early 1900s

During the 1800s, the Northern Thailand experienced economic growth through the teak industry. Due to Phrae's location to numerous teak forests, the town become home to several foreign residences and companies that operated teak farms nearby, such as the East Asiatic company and the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation. The East Asiatic company began logging in 1897 until it expired in 1936; while the Bombay Burmah was granted in 1889 a logging concession. Increased foreign presence of companies later led to an influx of foreign residences from different nations such as the United Kingdom, United States and Denmark. It also led to an influx of Christians and Christian missionaries, such as the American Presbyterian mission.

The last chao luang (king) of Phrae, Phiriya Theppawong, ascended the throne upon his father's death on 5 April 1889. In 1891, the former treasurer of Phrae constructed the Wichai Racha Residence, which would act as a safehouse during the Ngiao rebellion and World War II. In 1892, Khum Chao Luang was constructed as the royal residence of the chao luang. In 1897, Chinese architects from Guangzhou constructed a pink-white mansion made from teak which served as a wedding present for the king of Phrae to his stepdaughter. Also in the same year, in line with Chulalongkorn centralization reforms, Bangkok appointed Phraya Chaiboon (Thongyuu Suwanbat) as the governor.

Ngiao Rebellion

On 25 July 1902, a group of Shan miners who previously ambushed Siamese police and soldiers, stormed the police station in Phrae led by Sala Po Chai and Phaka Mong. The rioters, now numbering around 300, stormed the governor's residence and forced the chao luang to aid the rebellion. They then went about killing ethnic Central Thai residences, including the governor Thongyuu. From 25 July to 16 August, the town remained under Shan control. However, military defeat to the Siamese army led to mass disorganization and anarchy in the town after the death of their leaders. On August 5, Harold Lyle, the British vice-consul in Nan, moved into the former governor's residence in an attempt to restore order. He however delayed the Siamese and Danish armies from entering the town in fear that a massacre of local and foreign residences would occur. Finally on August 16, Pichai provincial police reclaimed the town before the main Siamese army led by Surasak Montri arrived on August 20. For his involvement in the rebellion, the chao luang went into exile in Luang Prabang and the Kingdom of Phrae was ended.

Modern History

During World War II after the Japanese invasion of Thailand and Thailand siding with the Japanese, members of the Free Thai movement operated in Phrae and used the Wichai Racha Residence as a safehouse.

Following the 2014 coup, the National Council for Peace and Order ceased all duties of Mayor Chokchai Phanomkwan on 25 June 2015. Prime-minister Prayut Chan-o-cha reinstated Chokchai's duties on 28 August 2020. Chokchai Phanomkwan was removed as mayor of Phrae due to corruption in delaying hotel taxes and parking fee collection on 25 January 2022.

Geography

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Yom_River_in_Phrae_Province.jpg" caption="ft}} above sea level."] ::

At Phae Muang Phi, a few kilometres north of Phrae, there is an impressive landscape of mushroom rocks and distinctive pillars shaped by natural erosive action.

Demography

In 2005, Phrae had a population of 17,971. In 2019, it declined to 15,316 with females making up 53.4% of the population.

Climate

Phrae has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw). Winters are dry and warm. Temperatures rise until April, which is very hot with the average daily maximum at 37.6 °C. The monsoon season runs from May through October, with heavy rain and somewhat cooler temperatures during the day, although nights remain warm.

|location = Phrae (1991–2020) |metric first = Yes |single line = Yes |collapsed = |Jan record high C = 35.6 |Feb record high C = 38.5 |Mar record high C = 41.7 |Apr record high C = 43.6 |May record high C = 43.0 |Jun record high C = 40.5 |Jul record high C = 37.5 |Aug record high C = 37.5 |Sep record high C = 35.8 |Oct record high C = 37.3 |Nov record high C = 35.8 |Dec record high C = 34.9 |year record high C = 43.6 |Jan record low C = 7.4 |Feb record low C = 9.4 |Mar record low C = 9.9 |Apr record low C = 16.0 |May record low C = 18.8 |Jun record low C = 20.0 |Jul record low C = 20.0 |Aug record low C = 20.5 |Sep record low C = 18.5 |Oct record low C = 14.6 |Nov record low C = 9.2 |Dec record low C = 5.0 |year record low C = 5.0 |Jan high C = 31.2 |Feb high C = 33.7 |Mar high C = 36.3 |Apr high C = 37.6 |May high C = 35.6 |Jun high C = 33.9 |Jul high C = 32.7 |Aug high C = 32.2 |Sep high C = 32.5 |Oct high C = 32.4 |Nov high C = 31.8 |Dec high C = 30.5 | year high C = |Jan mean C = 22.6 |Feb mean C = 24.6 |Mar mean C = 27.9 |Apr mean C = 30.1 |May mean C = 29.3 |Jun mean C = 28.5 |Jul mean C = 27.9 |Aug mean C = 27.4 |Sep mean C = 27.4 |Oct mean C = 26.7 |Nov mean C = 24.9 |Dec mean C = 22.5 | year mean C = |Jan low C = 16.3 |Feb low C = 17.7 |Mar low C = 21.4 |Apr low C = 24.5 |May low C = 25.1 |Jun low C = 25.0 |Jul low C = 24.8 |Aug low C = 24.6 |Sep low C = 24.4 |Oct low C = 23.3 |Nov low C = 20.2 |Dec low C = 16.8 | year low C = |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 13.4 |Feb precipitation mm = 11.7 |Mar precipitation mm = 31.8 |Apr precipitation mm = 82.5 |May precipitation mm = 171.4 |Jun precipitation mm = 141.9 |Jul precipitation mm = 179.9 |Aug precipitation mm = 239.0 |Sep precipitation mm = 187.7 |Oct precipitation mm = 79.3 |Nov precipitation mm = 22.7 |Dec precipitation mm = 10.8 | year precipitation mm = 1172.1 |unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm |Jan precipitation days = 1.2 |Feb precipitation days = 0.9 |Mar precipitation days = 2.6 |Apr precipitation days = 5.2 |May precipitation days = 11.9 |Jun precipitation days = 12.0 |Jul precipitation days = 14.2 |Aug precipitation days = 16.5 |Sep precipitation days = 14.0 |Oct precipitation days = 7.1 |Nov precipitation days = 2.1 |Dec precipitation days = 0.8 |year precipitation days = 88.5 |Jan humidity = 74.0 |Feb humidity = 68.1 |Mar humidity = 63.3 |Apr humidity = 64.5 |May humidity = 73.8 |Jun humidity = 78.2 |Jul humidity = 80.8 |Aug humidity = 83.8 |Sep humidity = 84.4 |Oct humidity = 82.7 |Nov humidity = 78.5 |Dec humidity = 75.8 | year humidity = 75.7 |Jan sun = 257.3 |Feb sun = 243.0 |Mar sun = 238.7 |Apr sun = 204.0 |May sun = 198.4 |Jun sun = 117.0 |Jul sun = 120.9 |Aug sun = 117.8 |Sep sun = 144.0 |Oct sun = 182.9 |Nov sun = 216.0 |Dec sun = 220.1 |year sun = |Jand sun = 8.3 |Febd sun = 8.6 |Mard sun = 7.7 |Aprd sun = 6.8 |Mayd sun = 6.4 |Jund sun = 3.9 |Juld sun = 3.9 |Augd sun = 3.8 |Sepd sun = 4.8 |Octd sun = 5.9 |Novd sun = 7.2 |Decd sun = 7.1 |yeard sun = 6.2 |source 1 = World Meteorological Organization{{cite web | url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/Thailand/CSV/Phrae_48330.csv | title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020 | publisher = World Meteorological Organization | access-date = 12 October 2023}} |source 2 = Office of Water Management and Hydrology, Royal Irrigation Department (sun 1981–2010){{cite web | url = http://water.rid.go.th/hwm/cropwater/CWRdata/ETo/ETo_PenMon_2554.pdf | title = ปริมาณการใช้น้ำของพืชอ้างอิงโดยวิธีของ Penman Monteith (Reference Crop Evapotranspiration by Penman Monteith) | publisher = Office of Water Management and Hydrology, Royal Irrigation Department | page = 21 | language = th | access-date = 31 July 2016}}(extremes){{cite web | url = http://climate.tmd.go.th/content/file/75 | title = Climatological Data for the Period 1981–2010 | publisher = Thai Meteorological Department | access-date = 4 August 2016}} ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/Cho_Hae,_Mueang_Phrae_District,_Phrae_54000,Thailand-_panoramio.jpg" caption="Wat Phrathat Cho Hae in 2015"] ::

Culture

Phrae is home to many notable Buddhist temples, including Wat Phrathat Cho Hae, Wat Pongsunan (Temple of the Tortoise), Wat Chorm Sawan, Khum Chao Luang, and Wat Phra That Cho Hae.

The latter is on a hill, nine km away from the town center. During the 1800s, two teak bungalows were built by Christians in place of churches and are still present in the town.

Mayors

::data[format=table]

Name	Term of office	Took office	Left office	Time in office
****เกรน ประชาศรัยสรเดช	1951	1962	11 years
****	1990
Chokchai Phanomkwanโชคชัย พนมขวัญ	2008	January 25, 2022	14 years
::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Phrae_Airport_Sign.jpg" caption="Phrae Airport"] ::

Transportation

The main road through Phrae is Route 101, which begins in Nan to the north, passes through Phrae, and leads to Sawankhalok, Sukhothai, and finally Kamphaeng Phet. The town is served by Phrae Airport, a small airport in Mueang Mo, on the east side of town. It handles only domestic flights from and to Don Mueang (DMK) by Nok Air.

References

References

1. "Phrae Province".
2. "Phrae (Phrae, Northern Region, Thailand) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information".
3. Newsroom, T. A. T.. (2020-02-11). "Charming Phrae showcases Thai history and culture from a bygone era".
4. (2021-07-25). "Trouble in Phrae – The Shan Rebellion of 1902".
5. "การปฏิรูปมณฑลพายัพของสยาม บีบบังคับให้เงี้ยวก่อกบฏ เมื่อ พ.ศ. 2445 ?".
6. "Phrae".
7. (2020-09-12). "Journeying through a thousand years in Phrae".
8. Bristowe, W. S. (William Syer). (1976). "Louis and the King of Siam". London : Chatto & Windus.
9. pearsaralee. (2020-08-31). "โชคชัย พนมขวัญ นายกเทศมนตรีเมืองแพร่ พ้นมลทิน นายกรัฐมนตรีสั่งให้กลับไปปฏิบัติหน้าทึ่ตามเดิม".
10. (2022-01-26). "มท.สั่งปลดฟ้าผ่า "โชคชัย พนมขวัญ"พ้นเก้าอี้นายกฯเมืองแพร่".
11. "Phrae, Thailand". Falling Rain Genomics.
12. "Pae Mueng Pee".
13. (22 July 2021). "ประวัติ จังหวัดแพร่ เที่ยวเชิงวัฒนธรรม แบบสโลว์ไลฟ์".
14. "Phrae".
15. (2022-01-27). "กกต. พร้อมจัดการเลือกตั้งนายกเทศมนตรีเมืองแพร่ ใน 60 วัน".
16. "(PRH) Phrae Airport Overview".

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