CHIANG MAI

     Part of the ancient Lanna kingdom,Thailand's upper north,long sequestered behind high mountain ranges, has developed a charm and character all of its own while keeping a quintessentially Thai heart.Until the rail line pushed north in the 1920s, an expedition to Chiang Mai was more hazardous and  time-consuming than a trip to Europe.

Wat Phra Borommathat Doi Suthep

 The reason behind the region's name of Lanna(a million rice fields) becomes clear then visiting this fertile area,and the north is also noted for its rich variety of flowering plants,particularly temperate-zone species which are at their best during the cool months.
             The major figure in the history of the north was King Mengrai(Pho Khun Mengrai Maharat) who united several small tribes and formed a new realm which he called Lanna Thai. In 1259, he succeeded his father as king of Chiang Saen and established his first capital at Chiangrai in 1262. In 1291 he decided to build a new city and he invited his close friends King Ramkhamhaeng of Sukhothai and King Ngam Muang of Phayao, to help in selecting a site. They decided on a fretile plain between Doi Suthep mountain and the bank of the Ping River. The new city, surrounded by a moat and walls measuring 2 by 1.6 kilometres, was named Nopphaburi Si Nakhonping Chiang Mai and completed in 1296.
                                                                                               
   Other than being a great warrior,King Mengrai was also a  civilized patron of the arts and religion. After conquering Haripunjaya(Lamphun), he brought Mon artisans to Chiang Mai to work on temples and monuments. Chiang Mai's abundance of ancient wats reflects the piety of the king.

Songkran Parade

                                                                          

       Chiang Mai's growth attracted the interest of Ayutthaya to the south and a series of conflicts ensusd though Chiang Mai was never really conquered. The empire continued to expand and in 1449, King Tilokaraja conquered Nan and brought it into the Lanna empire. His reign was characterized by a flowering of Buddhist architecture and temple building but in 1557, Chiangmai came under the control of the Burmese. It was to remain such until reclaimed by King Taksin in 1774.
      Chiang Mai's history as a city of economic, religious and political importance has giver it verydeep cultural roots. It has been continuously habitated for over 700 years; it has its own dialect and cuisine which give it a sense of cultural stability while its natual beauty has earned it the soubriquet of 'Rose of the North.

Paper balloons in Loi Krathong

                                                                               
        Located 761 kilometres by rail and 700 kilometres by road north of Babgkok, Chiang Mai covers an area of 20107 square kilometres and its capital is Thailand's second largest city and the heart of the Northern region. It is administratively divided into 22 Amphoes-Muang, Chiang Dao, Chom Thong, Doi Saket, Doi Tao, Fang, Hang Dong, Hot, Mae Rim, Mae Taeng, Omkoi, Phrao, Samoeng, San Kamphaeng, San Pa Thong, San Sai, Saraphi, wiang Haeng, Chai Prakan and Mae Wang.                                                                              
         In the city.

Wat Suan Dok

        Wat Suan Dok has the North's largest royal chapel. The principal Buddha statue is a huge cast image named Phra Chao Kao Tu. This temple was built in the reign of King Ku Na (1355-85) for the revered Sukhothai monk Sumana to establish an order of Ceylonese Buddhism.
        Built in 1345, Wat Phra Sing has the most complete example of a Lanna chapel and is home to Phra Buddha Sihing, considered Chiang Mai's important and sacred Buddha image, believed to have been brought from Ceylon during the Sukhothai era. Lustrous murals dating from the 18th century adorn the chapel housing the image. The temples woodcarvings and stucco figures were restored in 1927.

Wat Chiang Man

       Dating from around 1300, Wat Chiang Man was the first temple built in Chiang Mai. It was once the residence of King Mengrai, the city's founder. There are two famous Buddha images in this temple and a stone slab inscribed with cryptic Thai characters said to mark the spot where King Mengrai died.                                        Wat Chedi Luang was built in 1411.The big Chedi, originally with a height of 85 metres was damaged by an earthquake in 1545 and has never been completely restored.The Inthakhin or City Pillar is situated in this temple.                       The Doi Suthep-Pui National Park covers 262.5 square kilometres in Amphoes Mae Rim, Amphoe Hang Dong and Amphoe Muang.The park office is on the Doi Suthep route near Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.The Attractions in the area of the park are many.

Wat Phra Borommathat Doi Suthep

                                                                           
            Established by King Ku Na in 1383,Wat Phra Borommathat Doi Suthep on Doi Suthep has a large golden pagoda in its center containing holy relics of the Buddha. The temple is reached by climbing a staircase of around 300 steps which is lined with undulating nagas. It is a very holy spot visited throughout the year by Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world.
             Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year, is celebrated all over the country but nowhere with more enthusiasm than in Chiang Mai. It is part religious, marked by meritmaking ceremonies at local temples, and part pure pleasure, with good natured water throwing, parades, and beauty contests.

Songkran

Krathong

           In Chiang Mai an unusual feature of the Loi Krathong celebration is the Yi Peng Loi Festival or the ritual of the lighted balloon. After a day of meritmaking, the people launch colourful hot air paper balloons into the sky, bearing their troubles away. In the evening, all homes and shops are decorated with beautiful lanterns.Later, traditional Krathong are also floated on the river and other waterways.             

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