Tha Phae Gate ประตูท่าแพ , Chiang Mai, Thailand

Tha Phae Gate, Chiang Mai (24 October, 2006)


Tha Phae Gate (GPS: 18.78769, 98.99346; Thai: ประตูท่าแพ ) is a medieval gate in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It is the eastern gate into the old city. It is part of the old City Wall of Chiang Mai. The name "tha phae" means "raft landing", and refers to a time when people would arrive in the city of Chiang Mai on raft. In those ancient times, the entire 750 meters of the east side of Chiang Mai was protected by a moat and a wall. Tha Phae Gate was the only entrance, via a bamboo drawbridge, into the city. Today, the drawbridge has been replaced with a causeway. As for the gate itself, what you see today is not as old as you might possibly imagine it to be.

The original Tha Phae Gate is long gone. In fact, it was not even at the same location as the modern gate.It was in Kamphaeng Din, to the southeast of the old city. It was known as the "outer gate". In the location where we see the present-day Tha Phae Gate was an older gate, built during the reign of King Mangrai in 1296. It was the "inner gate", called Pratu Chiang Ruak, or Chiang Ruak Gate, because it is close to Chiang Ruak village. After Chiang Ruak Gate was dismantled in the early 20th century. When the Municipality of Chiang Mai and the Department of Fine Arts collaborated to rebuild the gate in the late 1960s, they based the modern reconstruction on an 1891 photograph of the gate.

What to see

Tha Phae Gate is a plain red brick gate with stout doors. As seen from its good state of repair, it is a modern reconstruction rather than the actual.

Getting there

Tha Phae Gate is located on the west end of the kilomter-long Tha Phae Road.

Viewing through Tha Phae Gate into Old Chiang Mai (24 October, 2006)


Another view through Tha Phae Gate. (24 October, 2006)


One of the doors of Tha Phae Gate. (24 October, 2006)


Interpretive board at Tha Phae Gate. (24 October, 2006)


Side view of Tha Phae Gate. (24 October, 2006)

360° View of Tha Phae Gate on Google Street View

Tha Phae Gate, from the inside looking out.

Tha Phae Gate is on the map of Chiang Mai

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