Chiang Mai Travel Guide
Chiang Mai ‘The Land of Lanna Culture’
Speaking of one of the most popular town in Thailand, of course, you can never forget Chiang Mai. Why? Chiang Mai is a historic town. It has been being surrounded with many stories.
Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand, is the second biggest province of the country with about 1.735 million population. In the past, it was once a capital city of Lanna Kingdom. At the time, the locals used ‘Kam Muang’ as their language. Lanna, however, is so outstanding with special and unique culture. You can see this through various architectures and tourist attractions. And many of landmarks in Chiang Mai are registered as world heritages by UNESCO. There is no wonder why people from every corner of the world love to travel to Chiang Mai. They want to see valuable things with their own eyes.
Chiang Mai in the past
Switching to a little bit of Chiang Mai history, as you’ve been informed, Chiang Mai was once a capital city of Lanna. Lanna is an independency, which was ruled by Mangrai Dynasty for about 261 years before being occupied by Bayinnaung Kyawhtin Nawrahta, a Bermese king. After that, the Bermeses ruled Chiang Mai for another two centuries. Then a war was exploded and those Burmeses were chased from the town. It can be called ‘the time of peace’, because after the war has ended, Chiang Mai was back into the rule of Thai royals, until it became a province of Thailand in the year 1933.
Geographical Information
Chiang Mai is located on the north side of Thailand, with about 310-metred height above the sea level. Therefore the climate is usually cold and you will mostly see mountains all around.
Here are some other interesting places nearby Chiang Mai too. You may go visit them if you want.
Northern: Doi Tham Pong, Doi Tuai, Doi Pa Wok, Doi Angkang(A part of Laos)
Southern: Tak Province(Sam Ngao County, Mae Ramad County, Ta Song Yang County)
Eastern: Chiangrai Province(Mae Fa Luang County, Muang County, Mae Sruai County, Wiang Pa Pao County) , Lampang Province (Muang Pan County, Muang Lampang County)
Western: Mae Hong Son Province(Pai County, Muang Mae Hong Son County, Khun Yuam County, Mae La Noi County, Mae Sa Riang County, Sob Moei County)
Moreover, there are total 25 districts in Chiang Mai.
|
|
How to travel to Chiang Mai
Definitely, the most convenient way to travel to Chiang Mai is to book a plane ticket! But, however, it depends on your location. Chiang Mai is 696 kilometres away from Bangkok, the current capital city of Thailand. If you’re in Bangkok, you may choose a train or a tourism bus. Both of these vehicles takes about 12 hours of travel. If you’re on a leisure trip or not in hurry, these ways will be the cheapest ways. But, if you hate to sit still for hours and get sore, you better choose a plane. Don’t worry about the price. A ticket to Chiang Mai is not too expensive. Normally, the one-way trip ticket is about 1,000 Baht or more. If you want a cheaper price, you can choose a low-cost airlines. There won’t be problems, don’t worry.
Meteorological Information
You may want to take a jacket, a pair of trousers, a pair of shoes or a coat if you’re going to Chiang Mai. The climate is cold all year round, believe it, you don’t want to have a fever. However, the coldest month is January, with the lowest temperature at about 14.9 Degree Celcius. The warmest month is June, with the lowest temperature at about 24 Degree Celcius.
Chiang Mai Tour Packages
Where to go in Chiang Mai
You can’t stay just one day in Chiang Mai. Never! There are too many good tourist attractions there, all around the town. Actually, it may take months to explore them all. However, here are the list of attraction in Chiang Mai.
What to eat in Chiang Mai
If you visit the north side of Thailand, it will be best if you have a chance of tasting some northern Thai food. And what best in Chiang Mai is ‘Khantoke’. Khantoke is actually a kind of traditional kitchen utensil, used for containing a set of food. It looks like a plate, actually. There are many places around Chiang Mai for you to have a Khantoke Buffet Meal, for instances, Khum Khantoke, Sibsongpanna Khantoke or Chiangmai Old Cultural Centre. Eat all you can with your friends and family. Be assured that you will have a great time! Delicious food with people you love.
What to do in Chiang Mai at night
When the sun sets over Chiang Mai, the city takes on a whole new charm, and there’s an array of unforgettable experiences awaiting you. Things to do in Chiang Mai at night range from bustling night markets to enchanting cultural performances, cozy local dining spots, and exciting night tours.
