 Chiang
Mai Attractions - Top Sightseeing and things to see
: Northern Thailand
is characterized largely by forested mountains, where working
elephants are still used in forest management. This mountainous
region is home to Thailand's many colorful hilltribe people,
and trekking and river rafting enable adventurous exploration
of this beautiful area. Chiang Mai is the principal norhtern
city and is a good base from which to explore the surrounding
countryside.
: 
The 1,005 - square - kilometre park covers Thailand's highest
mountain (2,565 metres). The lovely Wachirathan, Siriphum
and Mae Pan waterfalls share the mountain with Meo and Karen
hilltribe settlements. Forest above 1,800 metres is covered
with lichens and wild orchids.
Chiang Mai's most photographed waterfall lies some 58 kilometres
west of the city at the foot of Doi Inthanon Mountain, and
provides a picturesque setting for picnics and relaxation.
 Dating back from 1345 this is one of the
focal points of Songkran festivities each April 3-15 when
people bathe the revered Phra Buddha Sihing image. The temple
includes the lovely Lai Kham chapel with its exquisite woodcarvings
and northern-style murals and a magnificent scriptural repository
with striking base relief.
This temple was built in a 14th century Lanna Thai monarch's
pleasure gardens and is a favourite spot for photographers,
particularly for striking sunsets. Several the white chedis
contain ashes of Chiang Mai's former royal family. The 500-year-old
bronze Buddha image in a secondary chapel is one of Thailand's
largest metal images.
 This
is Chiang Mai's oldest temple and probably dates from 1296.
The temple was the residence of King Mengrai, who founded
Chiang Mai, and is noteworthy for a chedi
supported by rows of elephantine buttresses, and a small ancient
Buddha image, Phra Kaeow Khaow.
 This
temple is the site of an enormous pagoda, originally 280 feet
high, and which was partially destroyed by an earthquake in
1545. At one time, Wat Chedi Luang housed the revered Emerald
Buddha image now enshrined in Bangkok's Wat Phra Kaeo. A magnificent
Naga staircase adorns the chapel's front porch. 
,
north of the
Huai Kaew-Nimmanhemin Roads intersection This temple dates
from 1458. The seven-spired square chedi was inspired by designs
at Bodhagaya, the site of the Buddha's Enlightenment in north
India over 2,500 years ago, and was built by Lanna Thai architects
after visiting the holy site.
This delightful meditation temple is completely different
from Chiang Mai's other major temples and enjoys a bu-colic
forest setting. The ancient chedi is of particular interest.
This temple is noteworthy for an unusual bulbous pagoda. The
structure is decorated with colourful porcelain chips and
is believed to represent five Buddhist monks' alms bowls which
symbolise five Lord Buddhas.
The museum houses a collection of Lanna Thai works of art,
ancient Buddha images, and war weapons. The museum opens daily,
except Mondays, Tuesdays and official holidays, from 9.00
AM until noon, and 1.00 until 4.00 PM.
:
Increasing numbers of visitors now come to Chiang Mai in search
of the natural environment preserved a famous national parks.
Famous national park in Chiang Mai is Doi Inthanon,the highest
mountain in Thailand. In most cases, you will find easy access
and bungalow accommodation for overnight stays.
:The entrance
to the Mae Sa Valley is only thirteen kms north of Chiang
Mai City. This pristine area of waterfalls, rushing streams
and largely undamaged northern forest is one of Chiang Mai's
best-kept secrets. The Mae Sa Valley forms partof a loop road
encircling the national park of Doi Suthep and Doi Pui. There
are several villages of different hill tribe people, camps
where elephants can be seen at work and ridden, orchid, snake
and butterfly farms and spectacular waterfalls of which the
most popular is the Mae Sa Waterfall.
The Queen Sirikit Botanical Gardens, were opened in 1992.
They cover an area of some 3500 rai (about 2000 acres) and
include a wide variety of vegetation containing over 10,000
trees as well as ferns, palms, herbs and flowers - many of
which are extremely rare. Even if you are not a botanist it
is well worth visiting these beautiful gardens.
There is no other
market in Chiang Mai like Kad Luang, or the Royal Market as
it is fondly called by the locals. This ultimate market of
all markets sits in the heart of Chiang Mai on the Ping River,
it's vast buildings house hundreds of shops and stalls selling
almost anything you could wish to buy in Chiang Mai.
|
