Chiang Mai is Thailand's principal
northern city. Chiang Mai is the provincial capital of a largely
mountainous province, also called Chiang Mai, which is some
20,000 square kilometres in area.
Chiang Mai city is 700
kilometres north of Bangkok, was founded in 1296, and is located
in a fertile valley some 300 metres above sea level.
Chiang Mai was the capital
of Lanna Thai (Kingdom of One Million Ricefields), the first
independent Thai kingdom within the fabled Golden Triangle.
Chiang Mai flourished as a major religious, cultural and trading
centre until 1556 when a Burmese in vasion reduced it to a
vassal state. The Burmese were expelled in 1785, whereupon
Lanna Thai once again became part of northern Thailand.
Many lowland Thais
regard Chiang Mai city and province as being someting of a
national Shangri-la, thanks to its beautiful women, distinctive
festivals, historic temples dating from the 1300s, arresting
scenic beauty, temperate fruits such as apples peaches and
strawberries, and a crisp, invigorating cool season climate.
Local Culture
The people of Chiang Mai enjoy
one of the most distinctive cultural identities in the whole
of Thailand. Largely farmers and artisans, they have their
own lilting dialect, their own customs, their own festivals,
their ownarchitectural traditions, their own distinctive cuisine.
Hilltribes also lend a great deal of character and colour
to the crisply beautiful mountaions landscape.
City Attractions
Wat Phra Sing Sam Lan Road
This lovely temple dates from 1345
and is one of the focal points of Songkran festivities each
April 13-15 when people bathe the revered Phra Buddha Sihing
image. The temple compound includes the lovely Lai Kham chapel
with its exquisite woodcarvings and northern-style murals,
and a magnificent scriptural repository with striking bas
relief.
Wat Suan Dok Suthep Road
This temple was built in a 14th century
Lanna Thai monarch's pleasure gardens and is a favourite spot
for photographers, particularly for striking sunsets. Several
of the white chedis contain ashes of Chiang Mai's former royal
family. The 500 year-old bronze Buddha image in a secondary
chapel is one of Thailand's largest metal images.
Wat Chedi Luang Phrapokklao Road
This temple is the site of an enormous
pagoda, originally 280 feet high, and which was partially
destroyed by an earthquake in 1545. At one time, Wat Chedi
Luang housed the revered Emerald Buddha image now enshrined
in Bangkok's Wat Phr Kaeo. A magnificent Naga staircase adorns
the chapel's front porch.
Wat U-Mon Suthep Road
This delightful meditation temple
is completely different from Chiang Mai's other major temples
and enjoys a bucolic forest setting. The ancient chedi is
of particular interest.
Chiang Mai National Museum Beside Wat Chet
Yot
The museum houses a collection of Lanna
Thai works of art, ancient Buddha images, and war weapons.
The museum opens daily, except Mondays, Tuesdays and official
holidays, from 9.00 AM until noon, and 1.00 until 4.00 PM.
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