Chiang Mai

By Joyce Ira

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Temple in Chiang Mai

Night Market

Chiang Mai is Thailand’s ‘Rose of the North’. The eclectic blend of history, culture, soft adventure, beautiful mountainous scenery and laid back charm gives the visitors a wonderful feeling while staying. Being the second largest city in Thailand, Chiang Mai is one of the most attractive destinations with sights and charms unusual to itself and the picturesque Northern region as the center.

Chiang Mai is best appreciated when you are walking or riding a cycle along the narrow lanes. This will give you an experience for a lazy pace in an ancient Asian City. You will admire the traditional stilted wooden houses and curious shop houses doubling as noodle shops.

Chiang Mai is surrounded with temples. Within the old town you will discover some of the city’s most prestigious temples as well as many of more equally appealing Buddhist sanctuaries.

Temples worth visiting are below:

Wat Pra Singh – contains the Phra Singh Buddha which dates from the early 1400’s and has an exquisite maroon interior.

Wat Chiang Man – oldest temple and contains ancient bas reliefs and is constructed of massive teak columns which is seldom seen in other temples.

Wat Chedi Luang – the tallest structure in the old town and the home to the highly sanctified Emerald Buddha.

Wat Phan Tao – built almost entirely of teak with unique nagas outside and colorful mosaic work.

Wat Chetawan, Wat Mahawan and Wat Bupparam – three beautiful temples along Thapae road.

Wat Suan Dok – home of Buddhist theology.

Wat U mong – a forest retreat with a historic stupa and tunneled prayer sanctuary.

Wat Jed Yot – built for the Eight Buddhist World Council in 1477 and the seven symbolic ‘spires’ represent connections with Lord Buddha’s stay in Bogdhaya, India which is the primary design of the temple.

Aside from the temples, there are many markets that will please those shopping fanatics as shopping in Chiang Mai is very cheap. Chiang Mai is considered as the shopping capital in Thailand. You can go to, Wororot Market, Somphet Market and the Night Market. They have variety of products that will hypnotize you and make you want to spend and buy different things.

Further afield are the popular attractions of Doi Suithep (mountain), the ancient ruined city of Wiang Kum Kham and the pretty Mae Sa valley with its waterfalls, orchid farm and elephant camps. Also popular is the Chiang Mai Zoo and Huay Kaew Waterfall.

Travel agencies in town also offer different packages that you can choose. Like with other tourist destinations, everything depends on your budget.


Travel by road either to or from Bangkok is perhaps the best way to include Sukhothai on a Northern itinerary. While it is possible to make the trip in one long day, an overnight stop at Sukhothai or Tak is recommended.

If coming from Bangkok, you could continue on by road from Sukhothai to Nan for another overnight stop, and finally on to Chiang Mai via Phrae and Lampang.




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