The Old Town in Phuket Town is a special place that has preserved its ancient character. Many buildings here date back to the 18th-19th centuries, and most of them still belong to the families who settled here more than a hundred years ago.
One such building is Chinpracha House, built in 1903 by the local businessman Pra Pitak Chinpracha as a family estate on what was then the outskirts of Phuket Town. Now this is the central part of the old town, and the house belongs to a woman named Khun Daeng, who inherited the mansion from her husband, who was Chinpracha's grandson.
The building is a fine example of Sino-colonial architecture, but because of the dense surrounding development it is difficult to view it properly, so you have to settle for exploring the interior. The first floor and the courtyard are open to visitors.
The owner of the house has managed to preserve many fascinating items from the beginning of the 20th century - furniture, paintings, Italian mosaic flooring, old photographs. In addition, in the kitchen you can see household utensils, as well as clay and copperware.
The inner courtyard with an open-air pond is an important element of the Chinese colonial style, serving the practical purpose of ventilating the entire building in hot weather.
Because of its unique atmosphere, Chinpracha House was even used in the filming of some movies, for example, Indiana Jones.
If you grow tired of lying on the beach under the tropical sun, it is worth visiting this historical sight of Phuket for general interest and learning how wealthy families on the island lived several decades ago.
