Nan
The province covers an area 11472 kilometres. The provincial capital is 668 kilometres north of Bangkok. This former city¡Ðstate dates from the Suhothai period¡]1238 - 1350¡^, and was probably established in 1282 when Khun Fang , brother of the founder pf the Laotian capital Vientiane, set up a court some 70 kilometres north of the present provincial capital. Nan came under the influrnce of
Chiang Mai and later the Burmese before being reintegrated into northern Thailand and fully coming under Bangkok's control during the early1900s.
The provincial capital contains several Buddhist temples. The oldest, Phra
That Chae Haeng, is believed to be more than 600years old and is dominated by a
graceful golden pagoda. Wat Chang Kham Wora Wihan was constructed during the
early1400s¡DElephantine buttresses support the square¡Ðbased pagoda¡D
Wat Phumin, constructed during the late 1500s, and extensively restored during
the 1800s, is a repository of local art¡DExquisitely carved doors and a Naga balustrade
enclose a main chapel which houses a unique Buddha image, essentially four images forming a square and each facing the cardinal directions. The interior walls are decorated with fine Lanna Thai murals which depict regional history, and caricatures of local characters and stereotypes¡D Nan is accessible by air and by road from Bangkok¡D
