Mae Sariang

Mae Sariang is a small town and district on the narrow valley along the Yuam River in Mae Hong Son province. The areas around Mae Sariang are mountainous and forested; flat terrain for population or agriculture is scarce. The local people of Mae Sariang are of mixed origin. The primary ethnicity in the lowland plain, town centre and its satellite villages along the river is Tai Yuan (Northern Thai or Lan Na people) with some cross-marriage with other ethnicities. There are also Tai Yai or Shan people in the town centre. Red Karen and Karen descendants also reside in the town with a high density in the Christian quarter. There is a sizable Bengali Muslim community and a mosque near the central market. The area has many links to Burma, such as its architecture and a large population of Burmese Muslims. Mae Sariang represents the westernmost area where Lan Na culture and architecture dominate, which is also well assimilated with Burmese/ Shan. [Source: Wikipedia]

Ayutthaya Historical Research