Ban Phraya Surasi Visitsak

Ban Phraya Surasi Visitsak is a century-old teak house in Si Phanom Mat subdistrict, Laplae district, on the edge of Uttaradit town. It was the residence of Choei Kalayanamitr, who held the title Phraya Surasi Visitsak and served as governor of the Payap circle — the old administrative region covering northern Thailand — under King Rama V, later becoming a deputy minister of the Interior under King Rama VI. The house is now run as a small community heritage site, open daily and free to enter.

The building blends traditional Thai timber construction with colonial-era touches from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, rather than the Lanna style sometimes claimed for it — Laplae sits outside the historic Lanna heartland further north. Teak-panelled rooms hold period furniture, ceremonial items, and family photographs left from the house’s working life as a noble residence. It’s a modest single-house museum, not a sprawling complex, and a visit realistically takes 20-30 minutes.

Because it’s community-run rather than staffed by a large institution, hours can be less predictable than a state museum’s. The site’s contact number, 06-3289-5564, is worth calling ahead of a visit, particularly if you’re coming from any distance or outside normal daytime hours. There’s no formal dress code, but this is still someone’s family history on display — treat the rooms with the same respect you’d give any home.

Getting there means a short drive from central Uttaradit; there’s no direct bus or songthaew route, so a car, motorbike, or taxi is the practical option. Pair it with a look around Laplae itself, a district better known for its durian orchards and old wooden shophouses than for tourist infrastructure, so don’t expect cafes or gift shops at the house itself.

Insider Tip: This is a quick add-on to a Laplae day trip rather than a destination on its own — combine it with the nearby Laplae Museum or Phra Si Phanommat Memorial, both in the same Si Phanom Mat subdistrict, to make the drive worthwhile.

Visit Uttaradit province more broadly and you’ll find Laplae’s cluster of old wooden houses is one of its quieter historical corners, well away from the province’s bigger draws like Sirikit Dam.