City tour is a key program.
Mae Hong Son is named as the city of three misty season
(Muang Sam Mok) located in the embrace of mountains. Here is
just a small city with a few road. It is all
great in many aspects, natural or cultural. The center
of the city is starting point of many tour program.
Cultural tour in the city e.g. temples with mixed style of
Thai and Myanmar. Adventure tour along the river, elephant
riding and trekking e.g. Pai and Salawin.
Spending your holiday time here, drive and admire the
sights. Taste northern food in many restaurants at
your style. Thai Yai, Karen, Myanmar and traditional
Thai foods can be found in the city along the main road,
Khunlumprapas.
Here you may fly from Chiangmai or rent a car from Chiangmai
and enjoy sight seeing interesting places, taking hot spring
bath at Pai, visit Lod cave, and head for the city.
What is the interesting place in Mae Hong Son (city)?
Below are the details I have discovered for you.
The temple (wat) is situated in the west of the city, on
hillside. Previously called Wat Plai Doi, it is
regarded as the city institution. It is prominent with
two pagodas. The big one was built by Chong Tong Su
1860 and the other one by Phraya Singhanat Raja in 1874.
Todate, a good road is ready to the temple with 5 kms.
There are crowded people in annual festivals e.g. New Year,
Songkran and Aok Phansa.
The temples, built in 1827 in Shan arts, are located
around Nong Chong Kham Public Park. In the image
hall, Luang Pho To is enshrined as the main buddha image.
Opposite to the temples, a bar beer is recommended for beer
lovers especially during the winter's evening the
temples will be decorated with colorful lights reflecting on
Nong Chong Kham. Such relaxing feel is hardly found at any
places.
On the way to Phra That Doi Kong Mu, the templet is located
on the foothills. A large reclining Buddha Image of 12
feet long is enshrined. Cast in Shan's art under the
support of Phranang Miah, Phraya Singhanat Raja's wife, the
image possess finest Buddha characteristics. In entrance,
two large lion statues were built by Phraya Singhanat and
his wife. This antique statues is as old as hundred
years.
Inside the viharn, you may find little images, namely Phra
Bua Khem. If you want to see the images you may ask a
monk to show you.
Opposite to Wat Phranon, the temple (wat) has its own unique
construction e.g. roofed passage stretching from the arch to
the pavillion. Its age is over 110 years old.
Old textbooks telling the history of Shan and King Anoratha
Mangcho are found inside the temple.
So up to here, you may want to know who is Phraya Singhanat
Raja. Chan Ka Le, a Shanese name who later the first
governor of Mae Hong Son, had gathered people to settle a
village called "Ban Khun Yuan", which gradually grew and was
established as a city. Later in 1874 the city was
renamed Muang Mae Hong Son, and the Prince Inthawichayanon
of Chiangmai promote Chan Ka Le to be Phraya Singhanat Raja
and appointed him the first governor of Mae Hong Son.
The monument is located on the way to Phrathat Doi Kong Mu
on the foothills.
The village is on Pha Bong sub-district is the only village
of this kind to be reached by cruising for about an hour
along the Pai River, both sides of which are made up of fine
scenery.
It is the village by Thailand - Myanmar border. Here
you will find long-necked and long-eared girls.
Handicrafts made by them are available. Price is not so
expensive, so did I buy one.
If you want to visit here one of the hotels recommended:
Mae Hong Son Riverside. The hotel is located by the same
river. Downstairs of the hotel is the pier, you may
hire a long-tail boat to the village.
Here is another popular Karen's village that can be easily
reached by car, about 33 kms away from the city of Mae Hong
Son. The Karens here migrated from Ban Nam Phiang Din
because of no peace by the border. Handicrafts are
also avaiable like the other.
