Chinpracha House (Baan Chinpracha)
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Chinpracha House (Baan Chinpracha) is one of the 18 most beautiful mansions in Phuket spread all around Phuket Town. Some of these in Sino-Portuguese style house are abandoned in bad condition, some have been renovated, but Chinpracha House is somehow unique and in its original condition. It can be visited for 150 baht and may be worth having a look, but expect something halfway between a museum and a collection of personal items gathered along time.
Only the lower floor of Chinpracha house is open to the public as the second floor, still occupied by the owners, cannot be visited. The main living area with its beautiful Italian tiles is the most beautiful part of the house, with an indoor pond decorated daily with flowers. It won’t take you long to walk around two bedrooms, the entrance hallway and the large old fashioned kitchen.
All are in quite a good condition with some of the original furniture imported from Europe a hundred years ago and tons of old family photos decorating every wall. As most privately owned ‘museums’, items on display are a bit random, a mix of objects collected along times, many of them was probably used by the owners until replaced with something better (that will also end up on the shelves one day).
The house was built in 1903 by Pratipak Chinpracha, a family originating from the Fujian region of China and migrated to Phuket at the time of tin mining. This type of architecture was called ‘Angmor Lounge style’ by Phuket people at this time. Baan Chinpracha was also featured in few movies such as ‘Heaven and Earth’ and ‘Young Indiana Jones’.
The house used to be very visible from the main road, but a pair of condos are now hiding it from sight. It was always looking a bit abandoned; renovating such an old building must be very costly, and income from the few visitors might not be enough for a significant refurbishment. Anyway, it is a decent stop when walking the streets of Phuket Town, quite a walk from the famous Thalang Road but still at a walking distance if you don’t mind a bit of exercise.
Chinpracha House Photos
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Chinpracha House Info
Location: Phuket Town
Address: 98 Krabi, Talat Nuea, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000
Open: 9 am – 4.30 pm
Phone: 076 211281
Price: 150 Baht
Built: 1903
