Did you think Thailand was only about sandy beach resorts, charter tourism, the metropolitan melting pot of Bangkok, and rural farming for the rest? Well, than you’ve completely missed the northern part of Thailand with the country’s second city, Chiang Mai, with a population of nearly 700,000. There are many who attest to the fact there is something special — original, genuine and uniquely charming — about this medium-sized city, its mountain landscape, its European climate (hot summers and rather sold winters), and its status as a national center of handicraft, art, design as well as music.
Rich History — International Present
Chiang Mai has a far-reaching historical background, founded as early as 1296 by King Mengrai as the capital of the Lanna Kingdom with the old part of the city occupied by the King solely, surrounded by high walls. From the mid-1550s through 1774, Chiang Mai was under Burmese rule. Between then and the beginning of the 1900s, Chiang Mai and the Lanna Kingdom constituted a vassal state of Thailand, only completely incorporated as lately as in 1932.
Chiang Mai of today can pride itself with some 300 temples, the country’s highest mountain of Don Inthanon, numerous high-quality and internationally exporting wooden furniture producers, a regional center of health and recreation as well as elephant camps, the great and renowned Night Market (even greater and more widely recognised than that of Hua Hin) as well as the yearly Flower Festival in February. Furthermore, Chiang Mai is perhaps more international than some may expect, with a substantial international community as well as its own international airport, connecting Chiang Mai to such destinations as Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Philippines, Laos and Myanmar (Burma).
Abounding Choice of Activities
Activating yourself in Chiang Mai is really a piece of cake. The above-mentioned Night Market, located in the city center, offers clothes and handicrafts as well as entertainment venues. Wat Doi Suthep, a hugely impressive temple on top of the mountain Doi Suthep largely covered with gold plates, was a central hallmark of the Lanna Kingdom providing an amazingly beautiful view of the Chaing Mai area. Having made the trouble up the Doi Suthep mountain, the Royal winter palace of Phu Phing is not to be missed with its exquisite flower garden.
Nonetheless, what we definitely wouldn’t want you to miss is the elephant camps, of which Maesa perhaps is the most famous, where real elephants are performing the most unbelievable acts including playing football and musical instruments as well as painting pictures. However much one questions the authenticity of these elephant shows, they undeniably conserve the elephant as the national animal of Thailand, continuously providing good sources of income for their owners.
