The small mountain city of Pai is sort of well-known within the backpacker group and has been a daily cease over for hippie vacationers plying Thailand’s north. I made a decision to make a visit to Pai after I visited Chiangmai this 12 months to see what the fuss was about it.
Pai is round 146 km from Chiangmai and requires virtually 3 hours of driving up winding and steep roads. The street to Pai is worthy of it’s personal weblog publish and I shall publish it up later. For this publish, I’ll simply contact on the sights that you could find in Pai and it’s environment.
The City
Pai lies on the banks of the Pai River and appears to get its identify from it. The city itself is unfold out over a valley and surrounded by mountains. With a small inhabitants of two,284 (2006 information) primarily descended from Shan tribes out of Myanmar, the tradition right here is sort of completely different from what you will see in Chiangmai. From its former farming group days, Pai now depends primarily on tourism with a lot of the city’s inhabitants serving the vacationer greenback (or baht).
The Pai River from which Pai will get its identify I suppose. There’s a small bamboo bridge which connects some visitor homes to the primary strolling avenue space in order that guests don’t must make an enormous detour.Regardless of its flimsy look, this bamboo bridge has a metal body beneath so it’s truly fairly robust and a everlasting construction.Sure, you may go tubing within the Pai River, though I don’t know the place these 2 ended up at.A waterwheel made for vacationers. On the left are visitor homes. One of many tubers acquired caught on the waterwheel and began screaming up a ruckus.Upstream of the Pai River which comes from the upper mountain vary.The streets in Pai are often quiet and empty in the course of the day as a result of warmth. You will discover many small outlets, eating places, guesthouses and boutique inns alongside the streets.The primary attraction on the town is the strolling avenue or evening market which comes alive very night. You will discover every kind of stalls promoting avenue meals and knick knacks. My go to occurred to coincide with the Loy Krathong Competition, and the city’s people truly had a grand parade on my first evening. For a small mountain city, the parade was actually grand. I suppose everybody was glad that Covid was roughly over and vacationers had been again.An ethnic dance carried out by the Shan folks. I’m undecided what animal that is imagined to symbolize however folks had been providing cash to it.In addition to the Shan folks, I additionally observed a sizeable Muslim group who had been behind most of the avenue stalls.
They even had a small mosque for the Muslims alongside the primary strolling avenue.
I’d say this was my favorite avenue meals stall, and I ended up shopping for supper from them throughout my 2 nights keep.Pai additionally has its seedy facet. From its hippie beginnings and now with the legalization of medical hashish in Thailand, weed joints are fairly widespread regardless of it being unlawful.
White Buddha on the Hill (Wat Phra That Mae Yen)
To begin with, I ought to level out that you’ll want some type of motorized transport to go to the varied sights round Pai effectively. I did see some vacationers mountain climbing or biking alongside the roads. Though I wouldn’t advocate it as mid day temperatures can go as much as greater than 30°C, and you will have to be a Tour de France champ to cycle a few of the steep slopes and unpaved roads.
One of many closest sights to Pai is the massive white Buddha on a hill simply outdoors city. You can stroll or cycle there, however most vacationers lease motorbikes or vehicles, or get a taxi service from the city middle.
To get to the white Buddha, you will have to return to the bottom of the hill the place you could find this big stairs and the ticket workplace. I don’t bear in mind paying any price, however the folks on the workplace would examine if you’re dressed appropriately to go to the Buddha.Nagas guard the doorway on either side. Its a brief climb to the highest the place the white Buddha sits.On the high is the massive white Buddha statue. Its seen higher days with components of the concrete cracked and fallen off. Having fun with some solitude earlier than the vacationer crowd is available in to observe sundown.The white Buddha is a superb place to observe sundown because it faces west and overlooks Pai city.
The subsequent 3 locations are alongside the street that results in Pai from Chiangmai. You’ll most likely move them alongside the way in which when coming into Pai. On account of their proximity to one another, you may attempt to see them on the identical time.
Memorial Bridge
It is a metal bridge that crosses the Pai River outdoors of city. It dates again to World Battle 2 when the Japanese military needed to determine a route from Thailand to assault Burma which was underneath British colonial rule then. The bridge was in-built 1941 with the assistance of elephants dragging bushes and villagers compelled to work on it. The unique bridge was made from wooden and was burnt down by the Japanese after they left after the battle. The villagers rebuilt the wood bridge however it was washed away throughout a flood and a metal bridge was erected in 1976. That is the one which we see as we speak.
The Memorial metal truss bridge beside the extra trendy concrete bridge which is utilized by vehicular site visitors. The Memorial Bridge is especially utilized by vacationers to view the Pai River.
Tha Pai Scorching Spring
Regardless of it being a non volcanic area, there are a number of sizzling springs positioned round Pai. Not removed from the Memorial Bridge is Tha Pai Scorching Spring. This is likely one of the largest sizzling springs in Pai. The doorway price is 300 baht for foreigners however you may keep for so long as you want.
There are a variety of sizzling spring swimming pools the place you may soak your self. The swimming pools larger up are hotter than these on the decrease degree. The supply of the new spring comes from these pure springs the place sizzling water bubbles up from the bottom.On the supply, the water temperature is round 80°C. I’m wondering how the grass remains to be rising across the sizzling water.
Even the bushes and their roots are surviving the new water with out being cooked.
Pai Canyon
That is most likely the most well-liked attraction in Pai, drawing hordes of vacationers each night to catch sundown right here. Though its referred to as a canyon, its extra like sandstone cliffs which have been eroded away.
Pai Canyon consists of sandstone ridgelines that are linked collectively by slim and steep paths.A few of these paths are actually slim with close to vertical drops on either side. I do suppose its type of harmful with none security obstacles to forestall vacationers from falling off. The sandstone can also be fairly unstable and crumbles underneath your ft. That didn’t cease most individuals from crossing anyway.In case you are courageous sufficient to cross a few of these slim and steep paths you could find some unbelievable surroundings all to your self.The primary attraction that everybody comes right here is to catch sundown. Nevertheless, I believe its overrated due to the crowds and would advocate catching sundown on the White Buddha as an alternative.I got here right here once more within the early morning and there have been no crowds of vacationers. The morning mists additionally gave an ethereal really feel to the place.
The subsequent 2 locations are positioned on the west facet of Pai and you may go to them at one go. Nevertheless, the street resulting in them is basically steep and bumpy at some locations. So it’s best to get some good wheels to make the journey.
Pambok Waterfall
That is truly a small waterfall, however its type of spectacular as you must undergo a small ravine to get to it. It appears that evidently they’ve additionally raised the entry price to see the waterfall, which now prices 200 baht per individual.
The path that results in the ravine the place you will see Pambok Waterfall. Its a brief stroll and it’s best to see the waterfall after 5 minutes.
The outflow of the waterfall as I headed additional up the path.
The waterfall flows down from round 10m above into this ravine forming a small pool of calm water the place you may swim or soak your self.The mouth of the ravine the place I got here in from. The world is sort of small and its factor this place is just not that accessible in any other case it will have been overcrowded.
Kho Ku So Bamboo Bridge
Now that is truly a manufactured vacationer attraction, however its a lovely one. The bamboo bridge is a protracted wood walkway raised above paddy fields. It runs for nearly 1 km and has a number of pavilions for enjoyable in. It’s important to drive additional in from Pambok Waterfall going by some steep and unpaved roads to get to it.
The entry street to Kho Ku So Bamboo Bridge is thru this slim wood bridge and in the direction of the paddy fields.A really good welcome signal and a ticket sales space the place you acquire entry for the very reasonably priced value of 30 baht.The wood walkway is made from bamboo strips, therefore the identify. It splits in several instructions, some resulting in a a few cafes and video games space. However the primary path continues additional into the paddy fields.There are additionally some pavilions the place you may take cowl from the mid day Solar. I discovered that the patterns of paddy fields and the bamboo walkway makes for a really fascinating aerial picture.Whereas resting at one of many pavilions, I observed some employees threshing the stalks of rice grains.Proceed alongside the walkway and also you’ll discover some spots that are made for Instagrammers.Paddy fields cowl the valley flooring across the bamboo bridge space.On the finish of the bamboo walkway is that this temple hidden within the bushes. It’s nothing spectacular however you’ll must stroll virtually 1 km one solution to get right here.Strolling again to the doorway, I discovered this reasonably good view of the bamboo walkway and a really good pavilion.
Santichon Village (山地村)
On the northwestern finish of Pai is Santichon Village. The historical past of this village begins from the overthrow of Basic Chiang KaiShek by Mao ZeDong and the communists in China. Members of the Republican military in Yunnan fled to Pai and settled right here. Over time, they’ve inter married with the locals however nonetheless protecting their Yunnan tradition. They’ve since given up their combat with communist China and traded their weapons for tourism as an alternative,
The doorway to Santichon Village is over the bridge and thru the Chinese language type gate.Retailers line the primary avenue resulting in the village. It’s beginning to look very touristy.
The signal says there’s even a church right here however I couldn’t discover it.
A part of the village appears to be transformed into some type of theme park with mud homes changed into outlets.There’s Yun Lai Viewpoint halfway up on the hill which I’ll contact on later.They even constructed a reproduction of the Nice Wall of China at the back of the village.I had my lunch right here, making an attempt out their well-known Yunnan type pig trotters and oolong tea.
Santichon Village is type of fascinating to go to if you realize the historical past of the way it acquired right here. In any other case, it will look like a cheesy theme park capitalizing on Chinese language tradition. The villagers nonetheless preserve their Chinese language tradition like their meals, and I discovered that I might converse with them in Mandarin which made communication a lot simpler when ordering my lunch and discovering out details about the village.
Yun Lai Viewpoint (云来定)
If you wish to discover one of the best place in Pai to catch the dawn, that is it. It’s a small hill overlooking Santichon Village and is run by the villagers. It’s very touristy however very good nonetheless.
I got here right here within the afternoon to recce the route since I’d be driving right here in the dead of night earlier than dawn on the following day. This path leads as much as the highest of the hill the place you must pay 20 baht to an previous man to enter.They needed to make this spot a romantic one for the lovers and {couples} to take their pictures.The lone tree on the high of the hill has even turn into a wishing tree. Guests should buy tokens based mostly on what they need for; love or cash.You may see the city of Pai within the valley beneath and the White Buddha in the space on the mountain facet.
To view the dawn, you would need to come right here very early within the morning. For me it was 4.30 am because the dawn was round 5.30 am. Nevertheless, the villagers don’t permit outsiders to drive up the hill in the dead of night and through peak season because the street is basically slim and a method. They’d ferry guests on pickup vehicles to the highest for a price. You can e book the entire truck for a 2 manner switch which value me 300 baht as I didn’t wish to wait, or await extra guests to fill the truck and pay on a per head foundation.
I managed to catch the “Sea of Clouds” throughout that day’s dawn. The lights of Santichon Village will be seen beneath. That crimson patch of sunshine is from the lanterns alongside the entry bridge into the village.
A brand new day begins because the Solar rises over the mountains.A chook’s eye view of Yun Lai Viewpoint. The morning mist seems to be like a sea of clouds masking the valley beneath. Someplace within the mist is Pai.
You may go to Santichon Village after watching dawn at Yun Lai Viewpoint. The village opens very early within the morning to cater to vacationers catching the dawn.
