Pai
ปาย
District
Tha Pai Memorial Bridge in 2009.
Tha Pai Memorial Bridge in 2009.
District location in Mae Hong Son province
District location in Mae Hong Son province
Coordinates: 19°21′31″N 98°26′24″E / 19.35861°N 98.44000°E / 19.35861; 98.44000
CountryThailand
ProvinceMae Hong Son
Area
 • Total2,244.7 km2 (866.7 sq mi)
Population
 (2005)
 • Total29,526
 • Density13.2/km2 (34/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)
Postal code58130
Geocode5803

Pai (Thai: ปาย, pronounced [pāːj]) is the northeasternmost district (amphoe) of Mae Hong Son province, northern Thailand. The central town is Pai.

Geography

The Daen Lao Range dominates the landscape of this district. Neighboring districts are (from west clockwise): Mueang Mae Hong Son, Pang Mapha of Mae Hong Son Province; Shan State of Myanmar; Wiang Haeng, Chiang Dao, Mae Taeng, Samoeng, and Galyani Vadhana of Chiang Mai province.

The main rivers in the district are the Pai and Khong Rivers.

Symbols

The district slogan is, "Pai River, worship Luang Pho Un Mueang, spread good kind of garlic, surrounded by lush forests, way of life evenly between hot and cold".

History

In the year 1477 during the King Tilokaraj's reign of Lanna Kingdom. He ordered Prince Si Chai to attack Burmese army at Ban Don. During the battle, two of his white elephants fled. He asked the soldiers to find before found that they were swimming in an unnamed river. Therefore he named this river "Pai", which comes from the name of the elephant "Chang Pai".

After winning the war. The King established him as Lord Chai Songkhram and has been in charge of Pai since then.[1]

Administration

The district is divided into seven sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 66 villages (mubans). Pai itself has township (thesaban tambon) status and covers parts of tambon Wiang Tai. There are a further seven tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

Pai canyon
No. Name Thai name Villages Pop.
1.Wiang Taiเวียงใต้86,493
2.Wiang Nueaเวียงเหนือ103,727
3.Mae Na Toengแม่นาเติง146,417
4.Mae Hiแม่ฮี้62,835
5.Thung Yaoทุ่งยาว123,990
6.Mueang Paengเมืองแปง93,198
7.Pong Saโป่งสา72,866
Santichon Village

Sights

The alphabet "Pai" in Lanna style.

Pai, at present it is well known as an important tourist destination of Mae Hong Son. It is therefore very popular with both Thai and foreign tourists especially young people and also being used as a location for filming movies such as Ruk Jung in 2006, Pai in Love and Kat Rattakarn's Ya Kuet Nak-MV in 2009, Timeline in 2014 etc.[1]

  • Wat Si Don Chai (Luang Sa Ri Bua Ban), the first temple of Pai, older than 700 years.[1]
  • Tha Pai Memorial Bridge[2]
  • Wat Nam Hu
  • Wat Sai Khao
  • Mo Paeng Waterfall
  • Pam Bok Waterfall
  • The Pai Secret Hot Springs
  • Tha Pai Hot Spring
  • Yun Lai Viewpoint
  • Santichon Village, Chinese Yunan Cultural Village
  • Huai Nam Dang National Park (shares with Mae Taeng and Wiang Haeng Districts of Chiang Mai Province)
  • Pai River
  • Kong Lan or Pai Canyon
  • Pai Walking Street

References

  1. 1 2 3 jasminta (2015-09-02). "เที่ยวชมวัดศรีดอนชัย ศูนย์รวมใจคนเมืองปาย" [Visiting Wat Si Don Chai, spiritual anchor of Pai people]. Mthai.com. Retrieved 2019-09-08.
  2. ↑ "Tha Pai Memorial Bridge historical landmark in Pai". My Chiang Mai Tour. 8 November 2016.
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