Chiang Mai History - Travel Guides

CHIANG MAI
C
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hiang Mai is 700km north
west of Chiang Mai and is
the second largest city in Thailand.
Temples, mountains, rivers,
culture and adventure activities
has made Chiang Mai a major
tourist destination. The town lies
within a two kilometre square
moat that was originally surrounded
by a city wall that survives
in places. Chiang Mai is
situated on the Mae Ping River
300 metres above sea level with
mountain ranges to the West.
Chiang Mai’s largest and most
important river is the Ping,
which originates in the mountains
of Chiang Dao and �ows
southward for 540 kilometres.
It is along the banks of this
river that Chiang Mai’s �at, fertile
valley area lies. Chiang Mai is
also home to Inthanon Mountain,
which stands 2,575 meters above
sea level and is Thailand’s highest
mountain.
Chiang Mai History
Chiang Mai was founded in 1296
as the capital of the kingdom of
Lanna by King Mengrai. Lanna
uni�ed several small kingdoms in
the North at about the same time
that Sukhothai was established
further south. Lanna translates
as the “land of a million rice �elds”.
Lanna had its own royal families,
spoke its own dialect, and fought
its own battles with Burmese and
Siamese armies during the period
1296 - 1557.

Chiang Mai was attacked and fell
under the control of King Bureng
Nona of Myanmar in 1558 and
then governed by a succession of
Princes. In the 19th century, Rama
V appointed a high commissioner
in Chiang Mai and in 1939 Chiang
Mai came under the control of the
central government in Bangkok.
Reaching
Chiang Mai
Flights are operated by an
increasing number of airlines both
domestic and international. The
competition has led to reduced air
fares in recent years. The airport
is very close to the city centre.
Most hotels offer a pick up service
and if not, licensed taxis are available.
There are many trains each
day from Bangkok, with differing
classes and speeds and averages 11
hours.
Alternatively use one of the air
conditioned buses that leave
Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal.
The journey takes about nine
hours over a distance of 696 kilometres
passing Phra Nakhon Si
Ayutthaya, Nakhon Sawan,
Phitsanulok and Lamphun.
Chiang Mai
Attractions
For a complete list of Chiang
Mai attractions please visit
ChiangMaieguide.com. Only the
main attractions are listed and full
details of each are available on the
web site. Chiang Mai has a lot
more to offer than listed here!
Chiang Mai Night
Safari
A Safari style zoo with animals
living in a reservation. The park
is split into the Jaguar trail where
you walk; Savanna Safari and
Predator Prowl where you travel
on a tram. The park is primarily
designed for night
time but is open during
the day time.
Doi Suthep
Doi Suthep is the
name of the hill and
the temple is Wat
Phra Borommathat
Doi Suthep that
sits on the top
of the
overlooking
Chiang
Mai.
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The temple was built in 1383
by King Gue Na and the legend
is that an elephant was sent to
search for a suitable location, it
circled three times, trumpeted
and fell on its knees at the place
where the temple now is. Phu
Ping Royal Palace is about 4 km
from Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep on
Doi Buak Ha.
Mae Sa Valley
Close to Chiang Mai is the Mae
Sa valley about 30 minutes’ drive,
where you will see the Mae Sa
waterfall, orchid farm, monkey
and snake farms and botanical
gardens. You can also ride on the
back of an elephant at the Mae Sa
Elephant Camp.
Doi Inthanon
National Park
The Park contains Thailand’s
highest mountain at 2,565 metres.
The Wachirathan, Siriphum and
Mae Pan waterfalls share the
mountain with Meo and Karen
hill tribe settlements. You
can drive all the way
to the top,
where stately
chedis have
been erected in
honour of the
present King
and Queen of Thailand.
The climate at the
top is almost alpine and
cool at all times of the
year, with sub-zero
temperatures in
winter.

Wat Chedi Luang
Located on Phraokklao Road, this
temple is the site of an enormous
pagoda, originally 280 feet high,
which was partially destroyed by
an earthquake in 1545. The temple
was originally constructed in
1401. It is one of the most sacred
temples in Chiang Mai.
Spas and Massage
Thai massage provides therapeutic
healing and the methods used
today date back to Indian
Ayurvedic practice developed by
Buddhist monks 2000 years ago.
Thai massage involves treating
more than 100 areas of the body,
using hand pressure and in particular
the thumb.
Oil Massage is gentler than Thai
massage and involves deep muscle
tissue treatment using specially
blended therapeutic oils. Foot massage
works the internal organs of
the body through manipulation of
pressure points on the soles of your
feet. Massage parlours and Spas are
found all over Chiang Mai.
Wat Chiang Man
Located on Ratchapakkinai Road,
this is Chiang Mai’s oldest temple
dating from 1296. The temple was
the residence of King Mengrai and
has a chedi supported by rows of
elephantine buttresses, and a tiny
crystal Buddha which is believe to
have the power to bring rain.
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Trekking
Popular treks last from 2 to 7
days, take visitors through forested
mountains and high valleys
and meadows, and include visits
to remote hill tribe settlements for
overnight stays. Treks commonly
feature travel by foot, sometimes
by boat, elephant, horse or jeep,
frequently a combination of two
or three modes of transportation.
Adventure
The mountains and rivers of
Chiang Mai provide opportunities
to raft, walk, climb and bike. And
for the more adventurous even
Bungy jump and other extreme
sports.
Wat Phra Singh
The largest Wat in Chiang Mai
dates from 1345 and notable for
the Lai Kham chapel with
woodcarvings and northern-style
murals. The chedi was built in
1345 to house the remains of King
Kam Fu. Located at the end of
Ratchadamnoen Road.

Walking Street
Chiang Mai Walking Street is
held every Sunday. The streets are
closed to traf�c and vendors set
up their stalls. The concept is to
create a fun atmosphere where
food and traditional plays a part
in addition to the endless market
stalls.
Night Market
Every night Chang Klan road
between Tapee and Loh Kroh
roads is lined with stalls selling
a mix of handicrafts and general
goods such as clothing, luggage
and jewellery. Mixed in with the
stalls are many restaurants,
camera shops, travel agents and
internet cafés.
Chiang Mai Zoo
Chiang Mai Zoo is located on
Huay Kaew Road on a hilltop
overlooking Chiang Mai with a
large collection of animals and
two recent pandas.
Queen Sirikit
Botanic Garden
The highlight is the Glasshouse
Complex, comprised of exhibition
conservatories and display glasshouses.
Plants are grouped
together according to their environmental
conditions, and the
houses are each monitored to control
light, humidity and ventilation.
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Hill Tribes
There are different hill tribes with
their own traditions that live
around Chiang Mai. The Karen,
the largest group wear woven
v neck tunics of various natural
colours and turbans. The Hmong
are the second largest hill tribe
group and known for their intricate
embroidery.
The men wear baggy black pants
with bright embroidery along the
cuffs and seams. The Lahu women
wear very distinctive black and
red jackets and skirts and the men
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wear baggy green or blue pants.
The Akha came from Yunnan,
moving into Burma in the mid-
19th century.
Akha villages are distinguished
by their carved wooden gates.
Akha clothing is made of a homespun
cotton cloth died black with
indigo. The Yao live in isolated
villages around Chiang Rai. The
women are known for the long
black jackets with red trim. The
Paluang women beautify themselves
by adding brass rings to
their necks.