North Thailand Mae Sot
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OverviewAmphoe Mae Sot
This district is 86 km from Amphoe Mueang Tak. It was declared as a district in 1898. Its former name is Phra No Ke. The district is located on the plain flanked by the ranges of mountains in Thailand and Myanmar. It covers an area of about 2,600 sq km; the population consists of hilltribes, migrants from Amphoe Mueang Tak, and some Burmese people who have a Thai family here.
The history of Mae Sot is still unknown whether it was the town of Chot; Khun Sam Chon, the ruler of Chot, used to lead an army to attack Sukhothai. No old buildings dating back to the Sukhothai period have ever been found. It is therefore conceded that it is not the same town. At present, an archaeologist has found the remains of an ancient town in a thick forest of Amphoe Mae Ramat. This is probably the town of Chot as mentioned in the scripture stone of the Sukhothai period.
  The office that issue work permits for Myanmar/Burmese people who like to work in Thailand legally. The office is located about 500 m from Thai Border. Chaopho Phawo Shrine
This shrine is located on a hill at the foot of Phawo Mountain, between Km 62 - 63 on the Tak - Mae Sot route. It gains respect from the people of Tak town and Mae Sot. The story has it that Chaopho Phawo was a Karen warrior who was appointed by King Taksin the Great as chief of the Mae23 Lamao border pass to protect the land from an intrusion of the enemy. In the beginning, the shrine was on the other side of the hill. Then, a new road was built and the shrine was moved. Some told the sacredness of the shrine that if anyone went hunting on Phawo Mountain, they usually encountered irregularities, such as car trouble, sickness, or became lost. Since Chaopho Phawo was a warrior, it was believed that he favoured the sound of a gun. Visitors, therefore, pay homage and shoot a gun, set off fire crackers, or blow their horn to show their respect. Amazing Hill This hill is located at around Km 68 on the Tak - Mae Sot route. Here, a car can be astonishingly seen going up the hill without switching on the engine. A scientist gave an explanation that it was an illusion. The height of the hill was measured to confirm that the way up the hill was lower than the way down. Hence, a car that is seen climbing the hill is really moving towards the lower place. However, no one can explain why such an illusion is seen. Wat Phothikhun or Wat Huai Toei This forest temple is located in Tambov Mae Pa on Highway No. 105 (Tak - Mae Sot route) at around Km 69. The interesting feature is the Ubosot (ordination hall) which was designed and built by Khun Somprasong Chaonarai who, denying any wage, devoted his whole life for 18 years to complete it. The boat-like Ubosot has three storeys. The ground storey has no decoration. Decorations were made to the walls, ceiling, and heads of the posts on the second storey. On the third storey where religious ceremonies are performed, it was finely decorated on the walls, posts, and ceiling, with the arts of bas-relief, painting, glass inlaying, and gilding. There is the large principal Buddha image inside the Ubosot. Fine, delicate and elaborate designs outside the Ubosot represent the lively recreation of a traditional art form based on the builder's imagination. Wat Mani Phraison This temple is located near Mae Sot Market. Within the compound, there is a unique building called "Chedi Wihan Samphutthe" which contains 512,028 Buddha images and has 223 tiny pagodas on its outer surface. The ancient Ubosot (ordination hall) is more than 200 years old. Its gable and roof are decorated with beautiful wood carvings. There are also pavilions and niches containing Buddha images in various attitudes: Luangpho Sangkatchai, stucco reclining Buddha image, etc. Wat Chumphon Khiri This temple is located in the Tambon Mae Sot Municipality. It is an ancient temple of more than 200 years old. A newly-built Chedi is an imitation of Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar. The principal Buddha image in the Ubosot (ordination hall) is of the Mara-subduing attitude. An ancient drum of more than 200 years old is kept in the Wihan (image hall). Namtok Mae Kasa This large waterfall is located in Tambon Mae Kasa. There is a path leading the way up to a high mountain. A cave in front of the waterfall has a 5 m wide stream of water which serves as an entrance to the waterfall. To get there: Take the Mae Sot - Mae Ramat route (Highway No. 105), follow the sign to Ban Mae Kuet Sam Tha at around Km 13 - 14 for about 4 km, and take a lane off the road for about 1.5 km. Mae Kasa Hot Spring This hot well of 2 m wide is located in Tambon Mae Kasa, right in the village. Hot and cool streams flow to meet at this well. Visitors can smell sulphur throughout the village and see slight vapour just above the ground. At an edge of the well, the water is easily seen boiling and its temperature is fairly high. A private room for mineral bathing is available. The village is amidst the beauty of nature encompassed by a high mountain and farming land. To get there: Drive along the Mae Sot - Mae Ramat route, take a turn at around Km 13 - 14 to follow the same route to Namtok Mae Kasa for about 7 km and enter into the village towards the hot well. Wat Thai Watthanaram This temple was formerly called Wat Mae Tao Ngiao, or Wat Thai Yai. It is located at Mu 1, Tambon Tha Sai Luat, about 5 km from Mae Sot town. Take Highway No. 105 (Tak - Mae Sot route) to Rini Moei Market, to around Km 84 before reaching the Thai - Myanmar Friendship Bridge. This is a temple of the Mahayana Buddhism (Great Vehicle) of the Thai Yai people whose traditions, cultural arts and rituals are influences of the Union of Myanmar. It was built in 1857 by Mr. Mung, a Burmese villager in Shan State, whose family migrated to Mae Sot district. He was the first headman of Mae Tao village and later was named as Muen Atkhdmhaenghan. In 1957, the Ministry of Education declared it as a Buddhist temple attached to the Department of Religious Affairs. Inside the temple, there is Phra Phutthamahamuni, an imitation image of the sacred Buddha image in Mandalay, Union of Myanmar, which gains great respect from the people of Tak. White Elephant Kraal It is located at Ban Tha At, Tambon Tha Sai Luat. It was said that this kraal is a place of The White Elephant whose belonged to Phra Chao Fan Ruae, the ruler of Tak during Sukhothai period. Nowadays, the kraal itself is an earthern wall with bricks, I metre height, 25 metre width, and 80 metre length. To get there: Take Highway No. 105, 1 km. before reaching the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, turn right pass Wat Thai Watthanaram, go along for 2 kms. Then, the sign of White Elephant Kraal is on your left handside. Thai - Myanmar Friendship Bridge The bridge is located in Tambon Tha Sai Luat, across the Moei River between Tak's Mae Sot district and Myawadi in the Union of Myanmar. It is 420 m long and 13 m wide. Thai people and residents of Mae Sot district can travel or drive across the bridge. However, a border pass is required. The border pass service is available at the Mae Sot Immigration Checkpoint or the Mae Moei City Centre. Fees are charged on both the Thai and Burmese sides. Car insurance fees are also provided. Enquire about the information in detail before starting a trip since regulations may be changed. Contact the Mae Sot Immigration Checkpoint, Tel. 0 5556 3000, 0 5556 3002.
Foreign visitors wishing to travel across the bridge to enter the Union of Myanmar are required to present their passports to get a free-of-charge visa at the immigration checkpoint on the Thai border. On the Burmese side, ten U.S. dollars (subject to change) per person must be paid at the immigration checkpoint for a one-day visit from 6.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m. Foreign visitors are not allowed to go farther than 2 km from the checkpoint. For more information, contact the Mae Sot Immigration Checkpoint or the Mae Sot District Office, Tel. 0 5553 1077.
Illegal Crossing as well.
Rim Moei Market
It is a community on the bank of the Moei River, opposite Myawadi of the Union of Myanmar. It is also a market of local products of Thailand and Myanmar, such as seafood, dried bamboo shoot, dried fish, "Hua Yung" sea fish (Hapardontidae), Shiitake mushroom, beans, leatherware, satin, etc., as well as a market of gemstones, such as jade, ruby, coloured gemstones, etc. from the Union of Myanmar. A daily bus service is available from Mae Sot Market to Rim Moei Market, dropping passengers at the Thai - Myanmar Friendship Bridge.
Phrathat Hin Kio This Chedi is located in Ban Wang Takhian. It is a miracle of nature that a gigantic rock can stay on such a cliff. The rock is so slim at some point that it seems to be parted into two pieces. A Mon-styled Chedi was built on the exact width of the rock. Villagers call the rock "Chedi Hin Phra In Khwaen," which gains respect from the people of Tak and nearby provinces. Every year in February, a fair is held for worshippers to pay homage to it. Travel can be made by driving along Highway No. 105 via Ban Tha At and Ban Wang Takhian, and taking a right turn to follow a sign to the Chedi for 3 km. The Moei River (aka Thaungyin in Myanmar) This river is the borderline between Myanmar and Thailand. It is 327 km long, flowing towards the north unlike a river in general. The watershed is in Ban Mokoe, Tambov Phop Phra, Amphoe Phop Phra. The river flows to Mae Hong Son via Mae Sot, Mae Ramat, and Tha Song Yang, to merge into the Salween River in Myanmar before flowing into the Gulf of Martaban. To get there: Take Highway No. 105 from Mae Sot for around 10 km to the border.
How to get there
Bai Fern Restaurant is a Thai - Fusion decent food on the Western Intharakhiri Rd. If you found Aiya, Bai Fern is just on the opposite side of the road.
Casa Mia offers Thai as well as good Italian food. The staff is friendly, and it is on a street off of the main (Intharakhiri) road. The sign should be visible from the street and it is also west of town (further west than Ban Thai guest house)
Krua Canadian Cafe is quite central down the block immediately south of the Police Station (center of Mae Sot). The menu is quite large and a hive of western info, english papers and cuisine.The new Mexican Menu is a sure lure for the travelers tired of rice. It also has Wine by the glass.It has the largest selection for breakfast in town and open at 7:00AM sharp Where to stay There are many hotels and guest houses in Mae Sot. Centrally, you can stay at Green Guest House, a clean and affordable converted set of homes. There are private and shared bath rooms available. Television is also included. If you stay more than one night a towel and toilet paper are included. First Hotel has invested it's time and energy in its interior, leaving the exterior to be remarkable only for the difference. Air con rooms with double beds are available, as are other variations. Hotels in Amphoe Mae Sot Ban Chao Doi 44/13 Sawanwithi Road Bangkok (contact via Family Camping Tour Tel: 0 2246 4399 Fax: 0 2641 8746) 13 houses: 900 baht/person/day (breakfast and dinner are included) Ban Mai Resort 100/6 Asia Road, Tambon Mae Sot (Tel: 0 5554 6428-9, 08 1890 9269, Bangkok Tel: 0 2392 2888) 39 rooms: 800-2,000 baht Ban Rim Doi Resort 249 Mu 7,Tambon Maepa (Tel: 0 5554 6942, 08 9268 9641) Centara Mae Sot Hill 100 Asia Road (Tel: 0 5553 2601-8 Fax: 0 5553 2600), www.centarahotelsresorts.com, 114 rooms: 1,300-3,410 baht
Duang Kamon
298 Intarakiri Road, Tambon Mae Sot (Tel: 0 5554 2648-9 Fax: 0 5553 1103) 50 rooms: 350-500 baht First Hotel 444 Intarakiri Road (Tel: 0 5553 1233, 0 5554 6409, 0 5554 6150) 30 rooms: 200-450 baht
Golden Hill Resort
390 Mu 1 Soi Chai Sombun 4, Mae Sot-Mae Ramat Road, Tambon Maepa (Tel: 08 1674 7897) Huai Hin Phon Hut 96 Mu 6, Tambon Maepa (Tel: 0 5553 1772,08 1461 3303) 7 rooms: 500-1,200 baht Kao Kao Resort 374 Mu 7, TakMaesot Road, Tambon Mae Pa (Tel: 0 5553 5145, 08 6203 4430) Lucky Villa 86/8 Tambon Maepa, Mae Sot-Mae Ramat Road (Tel: 08 9269 7283) 8 rooms: 250350 baht Mae Moei 321 Intarakiri Road, Tambon Mae Sot (Tel: 0 5553 1162, 0 5553 1214) 24 rooms: 100-150 baht Nattapholmini Resort 453 Mu 2, Mae Sot-Mae Ramat Road (Tel: 0 5553 1553,0 5554 6396) 22 rooms: 250-900 baht Phornthep 25/4 Soi Srimueang, Prasatwithi Road (Tel: 0 5553 2590-4,0 5553 2595 Fax: 0 5553 2596) 160 rooms: 700-1,500 baht (Umphang Tour services) Phu Inn 9 Mu 7, Tambon Maepa (Tel: 0 5553 6101-3,0 5553 5199) 45 rooms: 300-1,200 baht Ruean Usa 31 Mae Sot-Mae Ramat Road (Tel: 0 5555 4270, 0 5555 4276) 19 rooms: 1,000-2,000 baht Sarakan Ritthiron Resort 29 Mu 6 Ban Huai Hin Phon, Tambon Maepa (Tel: 0 5550 0066, 0 5553 1596) 45 rooms: 500-1,500 baht/person (2 meals are included) Siam Hotel 185 Prasatwithi Road (Tel: 0 5553 1176, 0 5553 1763 Fax: 0 5553 1974) 85 rooms: 350-750 baht Suan Hin Moutain Lodge 130 Mu 6, Tambon Maepa (Tel: 08 1888 2404, 08 1366 5882) 7 rooms: 300-1,000 baht Suwannawit 1 Soi Wat Luang (Tel: 0 5553 1162) 24 rooms: 100-200 baht Thawichailand Resort 457 Intarakiri Road, Tak-Mae Sot Route km.7 the way to Amphoe Mae Sot (Tel: 0 5553 1287) 39 houses : 300-3,200 baht Wattana Village Resort 73 Mu 2, Tambon Phrathat Phadaeng (Tel: 0 5553 3468-70 Fax: 0 5553 3469) 25 houses, 60 rooms: 250-1,500 baht Guesthouses in Amphoe Mae Sot Ban Thai Guesthouse 40 Intarakiri Road (Tel: 0 5553 1590) 9 rooms: 100-350 baht Bussarakham 92/2-3 Prasatwithi Road 9 (Tel: 0 5554 4463-4) 6 rooms: 350 baht DK Guest House It is also a well used tourist hang out with mostly older NGO people, Christians and the like. About 400b per night tiled BIG rooms with TV, western toilet, cable TV and a balcony. Don't get the rooms at either end (next to the road or at the opposite end) as the noise can be a bit mich from chickens and cars very early in the morning. The staff are nice and Internet is available in the lobby. All Burmese staff (except counter staff) with good security at night with guard and counter staff on the ball.
Mae Sot Guesthouse
208/4 Intarakiri Road (Tel: 0 5553 2745,08 1937 4011) 12 rooms: 150-300 baht No. 4 Intarakiri Road (Tel: 0 5554 4976, 08 1785 2095) 5 rooms: 80-150 baht P K Guesthouse 842 Mu 9, MaesotMae Ramat Road (Tel: 0 5554 7349,0 5553 2744) 19 rooms: 350 baht Rujira Guesthouse 3/8 Bua Khun Road (Tel: 0 5554 4969) 10 rooms: 350-450 baht S P Guesthouse 59/9 Asia Road (Tel: 0 5553 1596) 15 rooms: 120-250 baht |
