Travel to Thailand

By: Andy Burrows
Chiang Mai, the capital city of the Province of Chiang Mai, is steeped in history. From its foundation the city has enjoyed both successful and turbulent times. The creation of this moated city can be traced back to the Lanna (million rice fields) Kingdom.

A major tourist attraction, lying to the south east of Chiang Mai, is Wiang Khum Kham. This is where the first city of the Lanna Kingdom was built. Due to flooding however the city was not a success and so had to be abandoned.

Chiang Mai was built in 1296 as the capital of Lanna. King Mangrai and his close friends King Ramkhamhaeng of Sukhothai and King Ngam Muang of Phayao choose this fertile location in the Ping Valley, close to the Ping River. The location served the city well with the trade the river brought. More over the city sat at the bottom of Doi Suthep, a mountain which provided wood for the city.

The Lanna Kingdom enjoyed its most prosperous period in the 15th century. The kingdom was well established and had a vast area of control. From the Burmese Shan territory, to the north western parts of Laos, to the Yunnan province in China the Lanna Kingdom had total control. The official religion was Buddhism which is still the most popular religion in this region today. The Lanna Kingdom is credited with spreading Buddhism throughout this part of Asia.

Temples (wat) were built in Chiang Mai they were beautiful, grand and well decorated buildings. The first temple to be built was Wat Chiang Man. It was built during the 13th century and still stands today. Housed within Wat Chiang Man are Phra Satang Man (a crystal Buddha) and Phra Sila (a marble Buddha) both highly revered figures within Buddhism.

Built in 1345 is Wat Phra Singh. This masterpiece is arguably the most spectacular example of a vintage northern Thai style temple. Housed within it is the Phra Singh Buddha which was transferred from Chiang Rai hundreds of years ago. Chiang Mai’s most famous feature, the moat, was built around the same time as Wat Phra Singh. The purpose of the moat was primarily to keep the Burmese from invading the city.

Burma wasn’t the only enemy that faced Lanna. Many wars had been fought against the Siamese of Ayutthaya. The cost of these wars on Lanna was heavy. Eventually in a weakened state Chiang Mai fell to the Burmese under the leadership of King Bayinnaung in 1558.

It was 200 years before the Burmese were ousted from Chiang Mai. The northern Thais united with the Siamese, led by King Taksin and successfully fought the Burmese, forcing them to leave Chiang Mai. This had more significance for King Taksin as he was trying to protect his kingdom. Having been defeated by the Burmese at Ayutthaya, he realised that without Chiang Mai it would be very difficult for the Burmese to attack Siam.

After the Burmese fled Chiang Mai the city was effectively ruined and so was uninhabited. It was Chao Kawila, appointed viceroy of Chiang Mai by King Taksin, who rebuilt the city in 1796. The walls around the moat that stand today were built at this time and still can be viewed and enjoyed on walking tours of the city.

The present day population of Chiang Mai can be traced back to a Tai ethnicity. This is because the new city was compiled of Shan, Tai Khoen, Tai Yong and some local people. What you will now find in Chiang Mai is a mixture of these ethnicities which through integration and assimilation became known as Khon Mueng. They have their own distinct language which is a dialect of central Thai.

The beginning of the end for Chiang Mai as an independent capital in Lanna was to come with more economic cooperation with Siam. This led to King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) overseeing all administrative duties in Chiang Mai. The interest being shown by foreign powers such as Britain in the teak forests was certainly a reason for Rama V to take control of Chiang Mai.

With tighter control on Chiang Mai by Rama V the British began logging on a massive scale. At first this was without problems. However due to a lack of regulations concerning concessions and taxation on logging teak, resentment and fiction began to occur especially in the border area. British loggers began to be killed and so the British turned to Siam for assistance in security.

This had the effect of placing Chiang Mai under the total control of Bangkok. The 1873 Treaty of Chiang Mai took care of this. Siam feared that the British, who were already in control of Burma would, for economic interests, come across the border and take control in Lanna. This would have serious political problems for Siam and so had to be avoided.

With the building of a railway to Chiang Mai and the introduction of a telegraph service trade links grew stronger between Chiang Mai and Bangkok. With the revolution of 1932 the absolute monarchy was finished and so Chiang Mai became a province of Siam. In 1949 Thailand replaced Siam as the official name.

Much hardship and suffering occurred during WWII in Chiang Mai under Japanese occupation. The mountainous terrain and scenery that draws so many visitors to the region also had a sinister side. The Japanese, using forced labourers, built roads through this incredibly tough landscape. These are the same roads that are in use today, and are now an essential and necessary aspect to enjoying the scenery of northern Thailand.

Chiang Mai has seen an annual increase in tourist numbers since the boom in the 1990’s. Also an ever increasing ex-pat community is developing. Both tourist and ex-pat are endeavouring to gain a true Lanna experience by living in historical Chiang Mai.
About the Author
Globe trotter and writer Andy Burrows has often visited the ancient city of Chiang Mai and it is one of his Thai top destinations: http://www.1stopchiangmai.com/ and http://www.1stopchiangmai.com/about_cm/history/

Published At: www.Isnare.com

By: Andy Burrows
Visitors to Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand come for the quaint, unhurried pace of life, the bargain shopping and the potential to break out on retreats into the mountains and jungle with a trekking trip. Whatever your reason for coming, Chiang Mai promises plenty of opportunities for excitement, relaxation and historic journeys into the city's past.

A trip to Mae Sa

A 30-minute drive to Mae Sa is a fun event for the entire family, as the area is packed with activities. Tourists venture out for the orchid nurseries; the well-known Elephant Camp where visitors can ride elephants and watch performances including a football match played by elephants; a snake farm and bungee jumping. Finally, the Mae Sa Waterfall offers a place to relax or perhaps go hiking.

Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

Chiang Mai is well-known for its handicrafts, silk and large markets. This all comes to a focus at the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, a veritable shopper's dream. Stretching the entire length of Chang Klan road, this market has become more of a tourist's domain than it once was. Here you'll find an assortment of jewellery, clothing, antiques, silver, all manners of souvenirs and knock-off designer items. It's open every evening until midnight. This is where you’ll find many of Chiang Mai hotels.

Doi Inthanon National Park

Situated south of Chiang Mai, Doi Inthanon National Park is a unique wildlife preserve and often makes for a comfortable cool weather retreat after spending time in the city. It's the tallest mountain in Thailand at a grand height of 8,415 feet. Camping is permitted in the park and the natural surroundings make for an excellent getaway. This is one of the best places for trekking in Northern Thailand.

Wat Phratat Doi Suthep

Overlooking the Old City of Chiang Mai, the mountain of Doi Suthep holds one of Thailand's most sacred temples. The 300-stair climb leads you to the large chedi and golden spire. This large temple complex dates back to the 14th century and the view of the city achieved from the marble courtyard is worth the trip alone. No trip to Chiang Mai is complete without visiting Doi Suthep. Ask the concierge at the hotels for assistance getting up there, it’s one of the most important in Thailand.

Thai massage and spas

Places to get a massage can literally be found on almost every street of the Old City, and prices range depending on quality and accessibility. Thai massage is world-renown, and some of the most skilled masseurs can be found in the more upscale spas, which also offer body scrubs and detox and beautification treatments. Even at these high-end facilities, the money spent is still fantastic value when compared to the superb quality of the treatment.

Chiang Mai Zoo

Don't be surprised if a local asks you if you've visited the zoo yet—most likely, they're wondering if you've seen the pair of pandas which are on loan from China, an endless source of pride for locals. These are only two of the more than 6,000 animals on display at the zoo which sits at the base of Suthep Mountain, from where there are wonderful views of the city.

Courses and training

Chiang Mai overflows with all sorts of courses in which tourists can enrol for only a few days or weeks at a time. Due to the affordable prices and the comfortable atmosphere in Chiang Mai, visitors are tempted to dig in and stay a while. So whether you're looking to learn the art of Thai massage, perfect your Thai cooking skills or study Thai boxing, you'll find it here for every level and length of time. When in Thailand this is highly recommended.

The Old City

A tour of the Old City is easily done on foot or by bike, and is the best way to come face-to-face with Chiang Mai's legacy. Portions of the old wall were restored in the 19th century, and the 700-year-old moat that surrounds the city has been beautifully preserved. The city gates have also been restored, and each marks an important commercial avenue in or out of the city. Temples are spread across the entire Old City, and some of the more important include Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phrasingh and Wat Chiang Mai.

Adventure sports

Any number of adventure sports can be organised through travel agencies in Chiang Mai. Some of the more popular outings include white-water rafting on the Mae Tang River, which is 1 hour, 30 minute drive out of town; mountain biking on Doi Suthep with the added bonus of spending time at the temple if you make it all the way to the top, and rock climbing at Crazy Horse Buttress. There's also an outdoor climbing wall located to one side of the Night Bazaar. Trekking in Chiang Mai is perhaps the biggest drawcard

Trekking Northern Thailand

It's impossible to list the major attractions of Chiang Mai without mentioning trekking. Tour guide operators use the city as a springboard from which to organise trips into the surrounding mountainous jungles. Expeditions are packed with a variety of activities and range from daytrips to several night journeys that include hiking, elephant riding and bamboo rafting. Routes are planned around hill tribe villages, where overnight accommodation is provided. Trekking is the best way to see rural Northern Thailand.

Remember to book your Chiang Mai hotels early in the high season.
About the Author
Part time Chiang Mai resident Andy Burrows is a web travel writer and his favourites online are: http://www.1stopchiangmai.com http://hotels.1stopchiangmai.com/thailand/chiang-mai-district1.htm and http://www.1stopthailand.com

Published At: www.Isnare.com

By: Nomadrick Chapo
Chang Mai is the largest city in the north of Thailand and well worth a trip. In many ways, Chang Mai is similar to Bangkok, but without the mass of people.

Chang Mai

Chang Mai is perhaps the most serene big city I have ever had the privilege of visiting. Located at the foot of a large mountain, the city nicely meshes older areas with modern conveniences. Serene Buddhist temples stand only a few blocks from bustling universities. Much of the city can be walked, but moped rentals are cheap and plentiful. Street markets are common, but the hustle and bustle of Bangkok is not.

The night market is perhaps the most noted thing about Chang Mai. Located in the eastern side of the city, the night market runs about a mile down the length of street dwarfed by malls, restaurants, stores selling art and spas. The stalls on the side of the road tend to sell cheap touristy products, but you should check them out anyway to sample some of the food items. Thais seem to take great humor from cooking anything they can get their hands on so long as they can gross out the tourist. Yep, you can munch on fried roaches, spiders, crickets and so on. For a good laugh, one can hang out around the stalls and watch tourist try the delicacies. It’s like the show Fear Factor without the washboard stomachs and breast implants.

To find the “good stuff” at the night market, you should head off the street and up into the open air malls. As you move towards the back of the malls, the quality of the products goes up dramatically. You’ll find artist not only hocking their wares, but also creating them before your eyes. There is some serious talent in the back of those malls.

If silk is your material of choice, Chang Mai is a good place to purchase it in bulk. Do not buy it at the night market. Instead, ask your hotel for a recommendation to a shop. Prices are low, but quality is high.

Traveler’s Tip

Guidebooks will tell you the best way to get to Chang Mai is to take an overnight train from Bangkok. Liars! Flying domestically in Thailand is very cheap. A one-way flight from Bangkok to Chang Mai will run you about $40US. There is no need to book ahead. Just walk into the airport in Bangkok and buy a ticket on the spot. If you prefer to spend the night in a bunk on a train, knock yourself out. Just keep in mind Thais tend to have smaller body masses than Westerners. Much smaller.

Of all the cities in Thailand, Chang Mai is my favorite. Yes, even more so than Bangkok.
About the Author
Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of writing journals. Travel journals are great travel accessories and travel gifts for student travel, family vacations and adventure travel. Visit http://www.nomadjournaltrips.com for more travel articles.

Published At: www.Isnare.com