Pai District


Pai District is the northeasternmost district of Mae Hong Son Province, northern Thailand.

Geography

The Daen Lao Range dominates the landscape of this district. Neighboring districts are : 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.

Administration

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

Sights

Pai, at present it is well known as an important tourist destination of Mae Hong Son. Due to having a beautiful nature and romantic atmosphere. 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.