Chiang Mai is the largest and most culturally significant city in Northern Thailand. It is the capital of Chiang Mai province, and was a former capital of the kingdom of Lanna which became a tributary state of the kingdom of Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai means “new city” and was so named because it became the new capital of the Lanna kingdom when it was founded in 1296. Chiang Mai was one of three cities contending for Thailand’s bid to host the world Expo 2020.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Temple
The original founding of the temple remains a legend and there are a few varied versions. The temple is said to have been founded in 1383 when the first chedi was built. Over time, the temple has expanded, and been made to look more extravagant with many more holy shrines added. A road to the temple was first built in 1935. Once inside the temple grounds visitors must must be appropriately dressed and must remove footwear. The original copper plated chedi is the most holy area of the temple grounds. Within the site are pagodas, statues, bells, a museum, and shrines. Aspects of the wat draw from both Buddhism and Hinduism. There is a model of the Emerald Buddha and a statue of the Hindu God Ganesh. Views of Chiang Mai can be seen on the far side of the temple.
How to Get There:
By Car: From Chiang Mai city center, drive along Huay Kaew Road up the mountain to reach the temple. The total distance of a journey is 14 kilometers and takes about half an hour.
By Bus:
Songthaew truck taxi: flag down a red Songthaew truck taxi which will take 40-45 minutes each way from Chiang Mai and will cost 200 Baht round trip.
Cat Taxi: Hire a cat taxi for a full day for 500-600 Baht
Entrance fee & opening hours:
Opening hours are Monday – Sunday, including public holidays from 06:00am – 5:00pm. Tram fee 50 Baht (Price is subject to change)
Tha Phae Gate
If you would want to go shopping, eating street foods and more, this is the place to be. There are lots of cafes and restaurants in this area; almost every block of this street has a place to eat. The entire street is filled up with street vendors, it would be a nice place to buy souvenirs.
How To Get There:
If you’re coming from Bangkok via buses, you’ll usually arrive at the Arcade Bus Station. Public songthaews (covered pick-up trucks used as public shared taxis) are lined up near Terminal 3, adjacent to the road that bisects the two terminals. Wait for other local people to get into them and ask the driver if he goes to your destination and confirm the price. A shared trip to Tha Phae Gate (south edge of the old town) should cost 20-25 baht each, but you may have to wait for the driver to confirm. Almost all songthaews will pass Warorot Market (city centre, just after crossing the river), where it’s just 1 km walk to Tha Phae Gate.
You can also charter the whole songthaew if you don’t want to wait or take a tuk-tuk. The drivers will approach you once you’ve arrived and will ask as much as 80-100 baht to the city centre/Tha Phae Gate, showing you a bogus price list with “fixed” prices. Bargain, it’s just 5-6 km, so the fair price for tuk-tuk there is 50 baht, and is not more than 100 baht even to the opposite side of the city.
Entrance fee & opening hours: Tha Phae Gate is open 24 hours. There is no entrance fee.
Suan Dok Temple
Suan dok Temple also called “flower garden Temple” is a Buddhist temple. The large 48 meter high bell shaped chedi – built in a Sri Lankan style – can be seen from far. The relic of the Buddha is said to be contained within. Stairs on all four sides originally led up to the narrow terrace encircling the chedi but these have since been replaced by ramps, the balusters of which are decorated with seven-headed nāgas emerging from the mouths of makaras, as is typical for the classic Lanna style. The recently renovated ubosot contains a 4.70 m high bronze Buddha statue in the Bhumisparsha-Mudra posture, which was caste in 1504 CE during the rule of King Mueang Kaeo. The statue, which carries the name Phra Chao Kao Tue, is remarkable in that the fingers of the Buddha are all of the same length, indicative of influence from Sukhothai, but with robes depicted in the style of the Ayutthaya Kingdom.
How to Get There:
The Wat Suan Dok is located on Suthep road, about 1 kilometer West of the old walled city center. You can get there easily by tuk-tuk or rented bicycle. Alternatively, you can take a songtaews (red pick up) for a very minimal fee.
Entrance fee & opening hours:
Opening hours are daily from 06:00 am. – 05:00 pm
Bhubing Palace
This palace is where the royal families of Thailand stay. The palace was built in 1961 to accommodate the royal family during state visits to the north of the country. The place has a beautiful rose garden also known as ”Suan Suwaree” The palace was built in central Thai architectural style called “Ruean Mu” (Group of Houses). The building sits on stilts. The upper floor is the royal residential area while the ground floor houses the royal entourage. The building master plan was designed by Prince Samaichalerm Kridagara while the building was designed by Mom Rachawongse Mitrarun Kasemsri. The construction of the Palace was undertaken by the Crown Property Bureau, under the supervision of Prince Samaichalerm Kridagara, assisted by Mom Rachawongse Mitrarun Kasemsri and Mr.Pradit Yuwapukka.
How to Get There:
From Chiang Mai city center, drive along Huay Kaew Road up the Suthep Mountain. The Bhubing Palace is located on the same road, 4 kilometres beyond Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, on Doi Buak Ha
Entrance fee & opening hours:
Opening hours are daily from 08:30 am. – 11:30 am. and 01:00 pm. – 03:30 pm. Entrance is 50 Baht (Price are subject to change)
Jadee Luang Temple
The construction of the temple started in the 14th century, when King Saen Muang Ma planned to bury the ashes of his father there. After 10 years of building time it was left unfinished, later to be continued after the death of the king by his widow. Probably due to stability problems it took until the mid-15th century to be finished during the reign of king Tilokaraj. It was then 82 m high and had a base diameter of 54 m, at that time the largest building of all Lanna. In 1468, the Emerald Buddha was installed in the eastern niche. In 1545, the upper 30 m of the structure collapsed after an earthquake, and shortly thereafter, in 1551, the Emerald Buddha was moved to Luang Prabang. In a wihan near the entrance to the temple is the Buddha statue named Phra Chao Attarot (Eighteen-cubit Buddha), which was cast in the late 14th century. On the other side of the chedi is another pavilion housing a reclining Buddha statue.
How to Get There:
The Wat Chedi Luang is located close to the centre of the old walled part of Chiang Mai. You will find it about half way Ratchadamnoen road that crosses the old city from East to West. The main entrance is opposite Phra Pok Klao road, just South of Ratchadamnoen road.
Entrance fee & opening hours:
Open daily 6am – 5pm, except for Buddhist holidays. Entrance fee is free with a suggested donation of 20 baht
Phra Singh Temple
The temple houses an important Buddha statue: the Phra Buddha Sihing which gives the temple its name. The origins of this statue are unknown but, according to legend, it was based on the lion of Shakya, a statue since lost which used to be housed in the Mahabodhi Temple of Bodh Gaya (India). The Phra Buddha Sihing statue is supposed to have been brought, via Ceylon(present day Sri Lanka), to Ligor (present day Nakhon Si Thammarat and from there, via Ayutthaya, to Chiang Mai. There are two more Buddha statues in Thailand which are claimed to be the Phra Buddha Sihing: one is housed in Wat Phra Mahathat in the city of Nakhon Si Thammarat and another in the Bangkok National Museum.
How to get There:
Wat Phra Singh is located in the western part of the old city centre of Chiang Mai. You can get there easily by tuk-tuk or rented bicycle. Alternatively, you can take a songtaews (red pick up) for a very minimal fee.
Entrance fee & opening hours:
Opening hours are daily from 06:00 am. – 05:00 pm.
Chiang Man Temple
Wat Chiang Man was built in 1297 as the first temple of Chiang Mai on the location of Wiang Nopburi, a fortified town of the Lawa people which had been used by King Mangrai as a camp during the construction of his new capital city Chiang Mai.
How to get there:
Located in the heart of Chiang Mai, within the old walled city on Ratchaphakhinai Road. It’s easy to walk to this temple for those staying in the old part of town; alternatively, can take a songtaews (red pick up) for a very minimal fee.
Entrance fee & opening hours:
Opening hours is daily from 06:00 am. – 05:00 pm.
Umong Tunnels Temple
The entire Wat Umong complex consists of 15 acres of wooded grounds. You can feed the fish, turtles, and ducks in a large pond. “Talking trees” have words of wisdom in Thai and English. The wat is famous for its ancient tunnels and large stupa. There are tunnels with Buddhist images below the chedi which can be easily explored. These tunnels were supposedly built by the King and painted with bush scenes so they could keep a famous but mentally deranged monk within the grounds of the monastery as he had a habit of just wandering off into the bush for days on end. Signs written in English and Thai hang from the trees on footpaths leading to the small lake where fish and turtles can be fed.
Other attractions include a Buddha field of broken sculpture, a fasting Bodhisatva, a Spiritual Theatre of paintings similar to those at Suan Mokkh, reproductions of ancient Buddhist sculpture of India, and a library-museum. This last building offers many books on Buddhism and other philosophies as well as a collection of historic objects and Buddhist art.
How to get there:
The temple located 3.5 km west of Chiang Mai. The easiest way is by Tuk-Tuk, bicycle, songtaew or take a city bus to west side 2.5 km on Suthep Rd. to Wang Nam Kan, then follow signs south 1 km to the temple.
Entrance fee & opening hours:
Opening hours is daily from 06:00 am. – 05:00 pm. (Please dress properly)
Buppharam Temple
The temple was founded by King Muang Kaew in 1497. The Burmese-style chedi was rebuilt in 1958, and there is a well nearby which supplies holy water for anointing the King. A small Lanna style viharn contains a large brick and stucco Buddha. Though over 300 years old, much that is seen today probably originates from a restoration at the end of the 19th century. The larger viharn (open only in the evening during chanting) goes back about 200 years and contains some mid- 20th century murals that show the Maha Rart in a Burmese style. The carved front door panels were completed in 1983.The newest structure is the hall with the pinnacled roof.Abbot Phra Udom Kittimongkol had it built on the spot where an earlier wooden structure used to stand. The building took ten years to complete and was finished in 1996. With its mythical beasts, stucco reliefs, wood carvings and murals, it is a fine demonstration of contemporary religious art.Inside the hall on the ground floor, murals show the Lanna twelve months’ traditions.Local artist Pornchai Jaimon included contemporary scenes in the details when he submitted this work for his degree thesis. The second floor is heavily decorated and contains two large seated Buddha images. The white image is solid teak and was carved after a vision by King Naresuan in the late 16th century, when he defeated the Burmese forces near Muang Ngai. This vision is depicted in the carved wood panels on the east wall.
How to get there:
To get to the temple, drive along Lampang-Chiang Mai Superhighway. Before reaching Chiang Mai’s city centre, turn left at the Poi Luang, or Nong Prathip, Intersection and drive along the street until you cross the bridge over the Ping River, called Nawarat Bridge, which is very well-known among the residents of Chiang Mai. Then drive along the street about 800 metres and the temple will be on the left side. Driving slowly is recommended due to one-way traffic or you’ll drive past the temple.
Entrance fee & opening hours:
Opening hours is daily from 8:00 am to 5:00pm.Entrance is free.
Chiang Mai Night Safari
The night safari has three zones; Savanna safari zone, Predator prowl zone, and jaguar trail zone.
The night safari also has different activities like digital zoo, night safari, Day safari, behind the zoo, and jaguar trail zone. The zoo also has a resort inside.
How to get there:
By Car: From Chiang Mai. Go along Huai Kaeow Road, turn left into highway no. 121 toward Hang Dong district for around 10 kilometres, then turn right and continue for 2 kilometres to Chiang Mai Night Safari.
Entrance fee & opening hours:
Opening hours is daily from 11:00 am. – 11:00 pm. Day Safari & Night Safari : Adult 800 Baht, Child 400 Baht (Price are subject to change)
Khantoke Dinner
Khantoke is a pedestal tray used as a small dining table by Lanna people. Khantokes are used as dining furniture to keep food served at a higher level than the ground at special occasions such as wedding parties, funerals, housewarming parties, and temple festivals. The range of foods that can be served at a khantoke dinner is unlimited. Khantoke is a container that is made from wood.It has a diameter of about 14 inches. There approximately 20 insize.Khantoke can adjust the food depend on your status social. Khantoke is the culture and traditions of northern heritage to the present day,especially in Chaing Mai,Chaing Rai,Lumphun and Lumpang.
People in northern Thailand usually sit on the floor when they are eating as it is their traditional style and most of the housewives will cook food when the food is ready prepared, It will be filled into Khantoke and now it is ready to be served.This is how Khantoke is popular in Thai’s tradition until now
chiangmaithaitour 