Chiang Mai
Monuments, Sites and Cultural Landscape of Chiang Mai, Capital of Lanna - Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage
situated in Northern Thailand, 700km north of the capital city of Bangkok. Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand, yet only has a population of around 200,000. Built in 1296 as a walled city surrounded by a moat. The old city was roughly 1.5km square. Whilst a good portion of the original city wall has collapsed the four corner bastions are still intact along with various other sections. The original moat is still in use to this day. Chiang Mai city is basically made up now of the old city (within the walled area) and the new city which has grown up around it. www.visitchiangmai.com.au
Lanna Kingdom - Chiang Mai - Short History
In the late 13th century the Lanna Kingdom covered most of Northern Thailand as we know it today as well as neighbouring parts of Myanmar (Burma), China and Laos. Back then it was bordered by Burma (now Myanmar) to the West, China to the North, the Khmer Empire of Angkor (now Cambodia) to the East and Siam (now Thailand) in the South. The 700 year old city of Chiang Mai was built in 1296 to be the capital city of the Lanna Kingdom (the kingdom of a million rice fields) by its ruler King Mengrai. Earlier capitals of the Lanna Kingdom had been at Chiang Saen, Fang, Chiang Rai, Lamphun and Wiang Kum Kam. The last capital before Chiang Mai was Wiang Kum Kam which was established in 1281 and situated some 5klms south-east of present day Chiang Mai. Wiang Kum Kam was destroyed by flooding from the Ping River around 1294. It then lay hidden for nearly 700 years and was only rediscovered in 1984. Today the excavated ruins of the ancient city of Wiang Kum Kam are preserved and on show as a national treasure and are well worth a visit. The Lanna Kingdom was ringed by high mountains, teak tree forests and well stocked rivers and its fertile valleys and plains were a rich source of agriculture. Chiang Mai was the main trading town between southern China and the sea ports of Burma. As such it was frequently attacked by its neighbours who tried to claim this prized gem as their own. After centuries of defending itself Chiang Mai was successfully invaded and incorporated into Burma as a vassal state in 1557. Over the next 200 years Chiang Mai fell at various times under the rule of the strongest invader, be it Burma or Siam. In 1774 the then Lanna King with assistance from Siam finally drove the Burmese out of the Lanna Kingdom. The Lanna Kingdom eventually became part of Siam in 1892. The Lanna Kingdom was gradually dissolved and condensed into a 20,000 km² area centered around Chiang Mai. 1932 the whole Chiang Mai area officially became a province of Siam. In 1949 Siam officially became known as Thailand. source: www.visitchiangmai.com.au
Monuments, Sites and Cultural Landscape of Chiang Mai, Capital of Lanna - Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage
situated in Northern Thailand, 700km north of the capital city of Bangkok. Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand, yet only has a population of around 200,000. Built in 1296 as a walled city surrounded by a moat. The old city was roughly 1.5km square. Whilst a good portion of the original city wall has collapsed the four corner bastions are still intact along with various other sections. The original moat is still in use to this day. Chiang Mai city is basically made up now of the old city (within the walled area) and the new city which has grown up around it. www.visitchiangmai.com.au
Lanna Kingdom - Chiang Mai - Short History
In the late 13th century the Lanna Kingdom covered most of Northern Thailand as we know it today as well as neighbouring parts of Myanmar (Burma), China and Laos. Back then it was bordered by Burma (now Myanmar) to the West, China to the North, the Khmer Empire of Angkor (now Cambodia) to the East and Siam (now Thailand) in the South. The 700 year old city of Chiang Mai was built in 1296 to be the capital city of the Lanna Kingdom (the kingdom of a million rice fields) by its ruler King Mengrai. Earlier capitals of the Lanna Kingdom had been at Chiang Saen, Fang, Chiang Rai, Lamphun and Wiang Kum Kam. The last capital before Chiang Mai was Wiang Kum Kam which was established in 1281 and situated some 5klms south-east of present day Chiang Mai. Wiang Kum Kam was destroyed by flooding from the Ping River around 1294. It then lay hidden for nearly 700 years and was only rediscovered in 1984. Today the excavated ruins of the ancient city of Wiang Kum Kam are preserved and on show as a national treasure and are well worth a visit. The Lanna Kingdom was ringed by high mountains, teak tree forests and well stocked rivers and its fertile valleys and plains were a rich source of agriculture. Chiang Mai was the main trading town between southern China and the sea ports of Burma. As such it was frequently attacked by its neighbours who tried to claim this prized gem as their own. After centuries of defending itself Chiang Mai was successfully invaded and incorporated into Burma as a vassal state in 1557. Over the next 200 years Chiang Mai fell at various times under the rule of the strongest invader, be it Burma or Siam. In 1774 the then Lanna King with assistance from Siam finally drove the Burmese out of the Lanna Kingdom. The Lanna Kingdom eventually became part of Siam in 1892. The Lanna Kingdom was gradually dissolved and condensed into a 20,000 km² area centered around Chiang Mai. 1932 the whole Chiang Mai area officially became a province of Siam. In 1949 Siam officially became known as Thailand. source: www.visitchiangmai.com.au
Wat Inthakin
The temple is also known as the Wat Sadue Muang, which translates to “temple of the city navel”, a reference to the spot in the center of town where the temple was built over 700 years ago. The temple’s founding date is not known with certainty. King Mengrai of the Lanna Kingdom placed the pillar on the temple grounds at the center of his newly established city Chiang Mai in 1296. Because of the presence of the city pillar, the Wat Inthakin was a temple of great spiritual significance. In 1800 Lanna King Chao Kawila moved the pillar to the nearby Wat Chedi Luang, where to this day the annual Inthakin festival is held. During the Burmese occupation which ended in 1774 the temple was abandoned. source: www.renown-travel.com
The temple is also known as the Wat Sadue Muang, which translates to “temple of the city navel”, a reference to the spot in the center of town where the temple was built over 700 years ago. The temple’s founding date is not known with certainty. King Mengrai of the Lanna Kingdom placed the pillar on the temple grounds at the center of his newly established city Chiang Mai in 1296. Because of the presence of the city pillar, the Wat Inthakin was a temple of great spiritual significance. In 1800 Lanna King Chao Kawila moved the pillar to the nearby Wat Chedi Luang, where to this day the annual Inthakin festival is held. During the Burmese occupation which ended in 1774 the temple was abandoned. source: www.renown-travel.com
Wat Suan Dok
is a very old temple known for its large number of white chedis or pagodas. Wat Suan Dok literally means “flower garden temple”. The temple derives its name from the location where it was built. The temple area was once used as a Royal flower garden by the ruler of Chiang Mai. The most noticeable feature of the Wat Suan Dok is the large number of chedis. The tallest golden chedi in Sri Lankan style is 48 meters high and contains the relic of the Buddha. A large number of smaller white chedis contain the ashes of members of several generations of the Chiang Mai Royal Family. The ashes were brought here from several places in Chiang Mai as requested by Princess Dararasmi early 20th century. source: www.renown-travel.com
is a very old temple known for its large number of white chedis or pagodas. Wat Suan Dok literally means “flower garden temple”. The temple derives its name from the location where it was built. The temple area was once used as a Royal flower garden by the ruler of Chiang Mai. The most noticeable feature of the Wat Suan Dok is the large number of chedis. The tallest golden chedi in Sri Lankan style is 48 meters high and contains the relic of the Buddha. A large number of smaller white chedis contain the ashes of members of several generations of the Chiang Mai Royal Family. The ashes were brought here from several places in Chiang Mai as requested by Princess Dararasmi early 20th century. source: www.renown-travel.com
Wat Chedi Luang
also known as the Jedi Luang and “The temple of the Great Stupa” initially consisted of two more temples named Wat Ho Tham and Wat Sukmin, that were all merged into one.The massive ChediIt’s most prominent feature is the massive and very impressive chedi (pagoda) dominating the area. The chedi was ordered by King Saen Muang Ma to enshrine the ashes of his father. Construction began in 1391 and lasted almost a century. When the chedi was finally finished in 1475 during the reign of King Tilokarat it had reached a height of about 85 meters and a width of 44 meters, which made it by far the largest structure of Chiang Mai. In 1468, the most important and revered Buddha image in Thailand, the emerald Buddha was installed in the Wat Chedi Luang. source: www.renown-travel.com
also known as the Jedi Luang and “The temple of the Great Stupa” initially consisted of two more temples named Wat Ho Tham and Wat Sukmin, that were all merged into one.The massive ChediIt’s most prominent feature is the massive and very impressive chedi (pagoda) dominating the area. The chedi was ordered by King Saen Muang Ma to enshrine the ashes of his father. Construction began in 1391 and lasted almost a century. When the chedi was finally finished in 1475 during the reign of King Tilokarat it had reached a height of about 85 meters and a width of 44 meters, which made it by far the largest structure of Chiang Mai. In 1468, the most important and revered Buddha image in Thailand, the emerald Buddha was installed in the Wat Chedi Luang. source: www.renown-travel.com
Wat Upakut
Wat Bupparam
Wat Cheatawan
Lanna Architecture Center
Markets
Wat Phantao
Wat Duang Dee
Wat Jetlin
Wat Muentoom
Wat Chang Taem
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Temple
one of the most important temples of Northern Thailand. During the Buddhist holidays of Visakha Bucha day and Makha Bucha Day Thai people come to this temple in great numbers. This temple is located on top of the Doi Suthep mountain, some 15 kilometers out of Chiang Mai. According to a popular version of the legend a monk from Sukhothai was in possession of a relic believed to be a shoulder bone of The Buddha. This relic was believed to have magical powers. The monk took the relic to King Kuena, ruler of the Lanna Kingdom. When he arrived, the relic had split up in two pieces, one being of the original size, the other one smaller. The smaller part was enshrined in the Wat Suan Dok, a temple just outside the old city of Chiang Mai. The original relic was to be placed in a newly build temple. To choose the location for the new temple, the relic was placed on the back of a sacred white elephant that was then set free to go where ever it wanted. The elephant climbed up Doi Suthep mountain and just before it arrived at the top, it trumpeted three times and died. This was taken as a sign that this was the place to build a temple to house the relic. source: www.renown-travel.com
one of the most important temples of Northern Thailand. During the Buddhist holidays of Visakha Bucha day and Makha Bucha Day Thai people come to this temple in great numbers. This temple is located on top of the Doi Suthep mountain, some 15 kilometers out of Chiang Mai. According to a popular version of the legend a monk from Sukhothai was in possession of a relic believed to be a shoulder bone of The Buddha. This relic was believed to have magical powers. The monk took the relic to King Kuena, ruler of the Lanna Kingdom. When he arrived, the relic had split up in two pieces, one being of the original size, the other one smaller. The smaller part was enshrined in the Wat Suan Dok, a temple just outside the old city of Chiang Mai. The original relic was to be placed in a newly build temple. To choose the location for the new temple, the relic was placed on the back of a sacred white elephant that was then set free to go where ever it wanted. The elephant climbed up Doi Suthep mountain and just before it arrived at the top, it trumpeted three times and died. This was taken as a sign that this was the place to build a temple to house the relic. source: www.renown-travel.com
Doi Inthanon National Park
located some 60 kilometers from Chiang Mai contains Thailand’s highest peak, the 2,565 meter high Doi Inthanon. It is a place of great natural beauty, with mountain streams, a number of large waterfalls, several vegetation and forest types due to the differences in altitude and many animal species, especially birds. The lower parts of the park are limestone rocks that contain a number of caves, the higher part is granite. The park is an important source of rainwater for Central Thailand and feeds a number of rivers like the Ping river, the Mae Klang and the Mae Pakong river. Since the mid 1960’s the Bhumibol Dam in the Ping river generates hydroelectric power. Doi Inthanon mountain was named after the last ruler of Chiang Mai, King Inthawichayon. This King who died near the end of the 19th century was concerned with conservation of the forests of Northern Thailand, recognizing the importance of the forests as a source of rain water. The park is home to a unique flora and fauna, due to its different altitudes. Near the top of the mountain, the much colder climate is very different from the rest of Thailand and supports a different ecosystem. Due to the presence of hill tribes people who use the area for agricultural purposes and settlement, some parts of Doi Inthanon have been deforested. more at: www.renown-travel.com
located some 60 kilometers from Chiang Mai contains Thailand’s highest peak, the 2,565 meter high Doi Inthanon. It is a place of great natural beauty, with mountain streams, a number of large waterfalls, several vegetation and forest types due to the differences in altitude and many animal species, especially birds. The lower parts of the park are limestone rocks that contain a number of caves, the higher part is granite. The park is an important source of rainwater for Central Thailand and feeds a number of rivers like the Ping river, the Mae Klang and the Mae Pakong river. Since the mid 1960’s the Bhumibol Dam in the Ping river generates hydroelectric power. Doi Inthanon mountain was named after the last ruler of Chiang Mai, King Inthawichayon. This King who died near the end of the 19th century was concerned with conservation of the forests of Northern Thailand, recognizing the importance of the forests as a source of rain water. The park is home to a unique flora and fauna, due to its different altitudes. Near the top of the mountain, the much colder climate is very different from the rest of Thailand and supports a different ecosystem. Due to the presence of hill tribes people who use the area for agricultural purposes and settlement, some parts of Doi Inthanon have been deforested. more at: www.renown-travel.com