Baan Chinpracha, at 98 Krabi Road in Phuket, is a fine example of a Sino-colonial mansion and is just a few doors away from the famous Blue Elephant Restaurant. Visitors not only will have a sneak peek of how a wealthy Phuket family used to live many decades ago but they can meet its owner too.
Jaroonrat 'Daeng' Tandavanitj and her late husband, Pracha Tandavanitj, inherited this elegant building from his father, who in turn was the eldest son of the original owner, Phra Pitak Chinpracha, who built it in 1903.
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- Phi Phi Islands Tour with Express Boat
- James Bond Island Full-Day Tour via Big Boat
- Coral & Racha Islands Full-Day Tour
- Whitewater Rafting & 4-Wheel-Drive Adventure
- Sea Kayaking at Ang Thong Marine Park
- Flying Hanuman Ziplining Experience
- Canoeing Excursion in Phang Nga Bay with Thai Buffet Lunch
- Introduction to City Tour
- John Gray's Cave Canoeing Tour in Phang Nga Bay
Interested in this tour? Book it here.
Baan Chinpracha highlights
Khun Daeng opens most of her house to the public such as 2 upstairs bedrooms, the kitchen and all of the ground floor area. She has managed to keep this beautiful house in fine condition including the vintage Italian floor tiles, some original furniture that was imported from Europe and China and many old pictures belonging to the Tandavanitj clan.
The most attractive section inside Baan Chinpracha is the inner courtyard, which is open to the sky (originally with a well). In the old days, this central open area was the heart of Sino-Colonial style houses. It was here that you would find the women of the house chatting while cooking or doing the washing. It was also, in a sense, the lungs of the house, allowing air to flow through, even in the hottest month, April, when temperatures in Phuket can rise to 38°C. Also contributing to the cool atmosphere are the thick, solidly built walls.
What not to miss
The large kitchen features old-style stoves, clay cooking pots, brass pans and kettles as well as kerosene lamps.
Also, there are quite a few food carriers (called pinto in Thai) displayed above the wooden cabinet. This item is an important part in Southeast Asian food culture. For example, people use it as a school lunchbox as well as in the morning when going to the temple to donate food to the monks or to transport fresh home-cooked food to give to friends and family when paying a visit.
Good to know about Baan Chinpracha
Baan Chinpracha has been used as a filming location, both for Thai and western movies, including Oliver Stone's Heaven & Earth (1993) and the TV series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992).
Baan Chinpracha is the only Sino-colonial mansion in Phuket that is open to the public. A small entrance fee applies for every visit.
Baan Chinpracha
- Opening Hours: Daily from 9am to 4.30pm
- Location: 98 Krabi Rd, Talat Nuea, Muang, Phuket 83000, Thailand
- Tel: +66 (0)76 211 281
