Nan (Thai: น่าน) is one of the northern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from south clockwise) Uttaradit, Phrae and Phayao. To the north and east it borders Xaignabouli of Laos.
The province is located in the remote valley of the Nan River, surrounded by mountains covered with forests. The highest mountain is the 2079 meter high Doi Phu Kha in Amphoe Pua, north-east of the city of Nan towards the border with Laos
For centuries Nan was an independent kingdom but, due to its remoteness, had few connections to the other kingdoms. The first kingdom around the city Mueang Pua (also known as Varanagara) was created in the late 13th century. Its rulers, the Phukha dynasty, were related to the founders of Vientiane, however it became associated with the Sukhothai kingdom as it was easier to reach from the south than from the east or west. In the 14th century the capital was moved to its present location at Nan.
In the 15th century, when Sukhothai declined in power, it became vassal of the kingdom of Lannathai. In 1443 King Kaen Thao of Nan plotted to capture neighboring Phayao by asking King Tilokaraj to help him fight against Vietnamese troops attacking Nan, even though there was no such threat. Kaen Thao killed the king of Phayao, however the troops of Tilokaraj then attacked Nan itself, and captured it in 1449.
When Lannathai was under Burmese rulership, Nan tried to liberate itself many times without success, which finally led to direct Burmese rulership of Nan in 1714. In 1788 the Burmese rulers were finally driven back, however Nan had to then accept the new Siam rulers. In 1893 after the Paknam crisis Siam had to give a big part of eastern Nan to French Indochina.
However Nan kept some degree of independence from the Siamese rulers, and it took until 1931 to become fully integrated into Thailand, and the province was then created.
Before the early 1980s bandits as well as People's Liberation Army of Thailand(PLAT) guerillas were a big problem in the province, usually destroying highway construction overnight. With the help of the army and the more stable political system the province improved significantly, but is still a very rural and remote area.
For further information, see the article on Nan, Thailand
Demographics
10.5% of the population belong to the hill tribes.
Certain inhabitants known as the T'in or Mal people speak a Northern Mon-Khmer or Khmuic language, T'in, an unknown language when Gérard Diffloth's classifications were widely cited in a 1974 Encyclopedia Britannica article.
Symbols
The provincial seal shows a Usuparatch bull carrying the pagoda of Phrathat Chae Haeng. The buffalo goes back to a legend that the rules of Nan and Phrae were brothers, and met at a mountain to decide about the boundary between their lands. The ruler of Nan went there on a buffalo, while the ruler of Phrae went there on a horse. The provincial tree and provincial flower is the Orchid Tree (Bauhinia variegata).
Administrative divisions
The province is subdivided in 15 districts (amphoe). These are further subdivided into 99 subdistricts (tambon) and 848 villages (muban).
1.Mueang Nan 2.Mae Charim 3.Ban Luang 4.Na Noi 5.Pua 6.Tha Wang Pha 7.Wiang Sa
8.Thung Chang 9.Chiang Klang 10.Na Muen 11.Santi Suk 12.Bo Kluea 13.Song Khwae
14.Phu Phiang 15.Chaloem Phra Kiat
Guest houses and hotels in Nan
Amazing Guest house:
is a centrally located place which is clean and down a quiet lane, but has shared bathrooms to match the cheap rates. 25/7 Rat Amnuay Rd., T.Naiwiang, Muang, Nan, 55000,Tel: +66 54 710 893, Mobile: 084 172 3738.
Nan Guest house:
offers tours and bike rental, and is located down a quiet lane in the centre, with rooms that have private bathrooms. Address: 57/15, Mahaphrom Rd., T. Naiwiang, A. Muang, Nan, 55000, Tel: +66 54 771 849, Mobile: +66 081288 8484, 089 431 9079, Website: http://www.nan-guesthouse.com/
Dhevaraj Hotel:
is one of the most comfortable in town, with a range of rates, plenty of room and various facilities. 466 Sumonthewarat Rd., Muang, Nan, 55000, Tel: +66 54 751 577, Fax: +66 54 771 365, Website: http://www.dhevarajhotel.com/, Email: inq@dhevarajhotel.com
Fahthanin Hotel:
is the newest in town, with all mod cons, plenty of room and a good restaurant. 303, Anantaworarittidet Rd., Nan, Tel: +66 54 757 321-4, Fax: +66 54 757 324, Website: http://www.geocities.com/FATANIN2004/, Email: fahthanin@hotmail.com.
