After The first day in Nan province, I woke up at 8AM at Shanti Retreat Hotel – Pua district, 60km from Nan city center. The hotel offered me the good & free breakfast, pork rice porridge with coffee and bread. I left the hotel at 9AM to continue my Nan journey. The first place of the day was Wat Phuket (Thai : วัดภูเก็ต). It is one of the most famous temple in Pua district (Wat is Thai language what means Temple). Let me tell you the weird thing about this name. You may feel that why this temple name is same as one of the famous island province in the south of Thailand, Phuket. Indeed, it has nothing connect. This temple is located on the hill what is called “Ket Hill“. In Thai language, we call hill as “Phu”. Hence, Phuket means Ket hill. Wat Phuket is the temple on Ket hill. 😁

Wat Phuket is just only 4 km from Pua district, only 10 minutes by scooter. It is located on the top hill and surrounded by the rice fields, it makes this temple has a beautiful landscape and view. The highlight is the balcony behind the temple, which is next to a wide field with a backdrop of the mountains in Doi Phu Kha National Park. Furthermore, Tha main chapel is built as Lanna style with three-dimensional murals. It is enshrined the Buddha statue called “Luangpho Saen Pua”. Wat Phuket is open daily during 6AM – 9PM with free admission.

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I spent time at Wat Phuket to admire the beautiful of the temple and greenery view of the rice field with mountains background until 10AM. Next, I continued by long way scootering back to Nan city center before the sunlight go stronger. I used to main road from Pua direct to Nan, different than yesterday what I rode to Street Number 3 and Pua from Nan city center by local road. I arrived Nan about 11.30AM and had lunch at local food store. At 1PM, I went to check-in at Hop Inn Hotel – Nan to keep my belongings and refresh myself before starting to explore the interesting places.

About 2PM, I visited Wat Phra That Chang Kham (Thai : วัดพระธาตุช้างค้ำ) where is located in the heart of city center. It was built in 1406, during the reign of Chao Pu Khaeng which is influenced of Sukhothai art. This temple is a royal temple of Nan province for the ruler of the city to use as a place for important Buddhist ceremonies and the water bearing ceremony. In the main chapel, it has a large Lanna style seated image Buddha named Phra Chao Luang. Furthermore, it has the huge brick and mortar pagoda which is moulded in the form of half an elephant with 5 elephants on each side and at the four corners, there are another 4 elephants. This temple can make the visitors feel the greatness of this city during it was ruled by the monarch. Wat Phra That Chang Kham is open daily during 6AM – 6PM with free admission.

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Just opposite to Wat Phra That Chang Kham, it has the most famous temple of Nan, Wat Phu Min (Thai : วัดภูมินทร์). This temple is the icon of Nan. If you visit Nan but not visit this temple, it means you never visit this province. ☺️ This temple was established since 1596 by Phrachao Chettabut Phrommin, the former ruler of Nan. The ordination hall is a tetrahedron shaped building with two large Nagas guarding it. The most special thing about Wat Phumin is the wall painting ‘Whisper of Love’, it is well known as Pu Man Ya Man (Grandpa Man and Grandma Man). The visitor cannot miss to take the photo with this historic painting. Wat Phu Min is open daily, 6AM – 6PM with no entrance fee.

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Next to Wat Phu Min, it is Nan National Museum (Thai : พิพิธภัณฑ์สถานแห่งชาติน่าน) which is the one of icon of Nan province. The visitor must not miss to visit this place. It was built in 1903 by Phra Chao Suriyapnong Phalidet, the penultimate lord of Nan, when he wanted to renovate his wooden residence. Then, it was donated to Thai government in 1931 and used as Town Hall of Nan until 1973. After that, in 1974, it was upgraded to be the Nan National Museum. The museum has 2 floors. The ground floor has ethnological exhibits covering the various ethnic groups found in the province. Among the items on display are textiles, silverwork, folk utensils and tribal costumes. The second floor are exhibits on Nan history, archaeology, local architecture, royal regalia, weapons, ceramics and religious art. Not only the museum, the most interesting things what the visitors like to do the most here is taking the photograph with “Frangipani Tunnel” in front of the main building. Nan National Museum is open on Wednesday to Sunday, 9AM – 4PM. The entrance fee for foreigner in 100 THB/person (about 3 USD).

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About 5PM, the street next to Wat Phu Min had been transformed to be Nan Night Market (Weekend Walking Street) I would not miss to visit this market as it is famous for the local foods and merchandises. It was only 200 meters long walking street. But it was full of interesting and yummy looked food. Furthermore, the local merchandises and souvenir could lead me to think of when I was university student at Chiang Mai University, in the biggest northern city of Thailand. During that time, I often visited local walking street to see the local and tribal goods. As I was born in northeastern of Thailand, the local goods at Chiang Mai were quaint for me. Nan Weekend Walking Street recalled my “teenhood” memories. The local lives were slow or even not moved. It looked simply but charming. Nan Weekend Walking Street is open on Friday – Sunday, 5PM – 9PM. 🥰

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I had grabbed some foods and dessert from Nan walking street. The taste was so local, yummy and unique and could not find at anywhere. Then, I spent the time after sunset to immerse myself with the local lives in the weekend evening. I could say that it was long ago that I feel free and calm. Nan had brought me the different peaceful feeling, it is not peaceful from outside, but it was from the heart of my heart. ♥️

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Written by : Shipy Siwarit Tiasuwattiseth

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