Chiang Mai

the rose of the north of Thailand

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The Rose of the North, as Chiang Mai is also called, simply because of the beautiful landscape and the Lanna-style Buddhist monasteries.

Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand after Bangkok

Chiang Mai is also known as the city of temples, the city has preserved its "old core", i.e. the original city center.

I came here for the first time in 2012 and instantly fell in love. More visits followed and I could probably walk or cycle around the city for weeks. The many small temples in addition to the most famous and important temples are all a gem and beautiful motifs.

Alejandro as a silversmith

The Story of Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai was probably founded in 1296 as the capital of the Lan Na Empire - land of millions of rice fields. The ruler of Mangrai had his capital in Chiang Rai before the founding of Chiang Mai. In 1558 Chiang Mai was occupied by the Burmese army and from then on it was part of the Burmese empire of King Bayinnaung of Pegu. The name Chiang Mai became Lan Na. Admiral Taksin recaptured the city, in 1774 and Siamese influence grew.

From the heyday of Chiang Mai there are still countless temples built in the Lana style, in Chiang Mai there are more than 200 Buddhist temples. The most beautiful, in my opinion, can be found within Chiang Mai's historic city fortifications.

Some of the city gates were not built until the 14th and 15th centuries. After the Burmese left, the city was restored and fortified. The masonry was massively destroyed by Japanese troops during World War II. They destroyed the walls to use the stones for road construction. Only in the 1970s were parts of the city walls and gates restored. The city is a listed building and it is hoped that it will be included as a World Heritage Site. Fortifications are built in a rectangle, about 1,800 m by 2,000 m. The existing moat is said to have originally been 18 meters wide.

Chiang Mai has many beautiful festivals to offer

- Bo Sang Umbrella Festival – Umbrella Festival with parades on the third weekend of January

- Flower Festival – flower festival in February

- Makha Bucha Day – in February, one of the most important Buddhist holidays – candlelight pilgrimage to Wat Chedi Luang

- Thai New Year Songkran 14 April (all over Thailand)

- Visakha Bucha Day – Buddha's birthday on the full moon in May (in all Buddhist countries)

- Nimmanhaemin Arts Festival – 3 days on the first weekend of December

- Loi Krathong / Yi Peng – Lantern Festival, for me the most beautiful full moon festival in November

Alejandro shows us how it's done

There is a lot to see in and around the City!

Sights in the city:

- The Three Kings Monument - Kings Mengrai of Lan Na, King Ramkhamhaeng of Sukothai and King Ngam Muang of Phayao.

- Templo Wat Mok Moee

- Templo Wat Phra Sing

- Wat Chedi Luang

- Estatua de la Lluvia - Wat Chiang Man

- Wat Phan Tao

- Wat Lok Mo Li

- Wua Lai Walking Street – Saturday night market

- Nong Buak Haad Public Park

- Chiang Mai National Museum

a candle for godmother Petra

Sights outside of the city

- Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep

- one of my favorite places - Wat Palad (or Wat Phra Lat)

- Wat Umong Suan Phuttha Tham

- Doi Suthep-Pui National Park with waterfall

- Elephants in the nature park

- Trekking

Multi-day or day trips, from Chiang Mai or combinations for onward or arriving travel:

- to Chiang Rai and the region of the Golden Triangle, are offered for 2 days or as a day tour and are worthwhile for a longer stay.

- Luang Prabang Laos, can be reached in just an hour's flight

- Hanoi Vietnam, some days there are direct flights

- Singapore also here direct flights are offered

Getting there:

By plane from Bangkok, Singapore, Hanoi, Luang Prabang or China.

By train or bus from Bangkok or Sukhothai.

Where to sleep / spend the night:

As always, there is something for every budget in Chiang Mai. From hostels to luxury villas, you can find almost everything here. I prefer to book one of the small hotels in the old town or just outside the old town towards the river.

Chiang Mai is always worth a visit and I can wholeheartedly recommend that you include this city in your planning. Soon there will also be more information about the individual sights and excursions.