Chiang Mai was founded in the late 13th century and is one of the oldest continually inhabited settlements in Thailand. It was once the capital of Lanna, an independent Thai Kingdom and has preserved its unique cultural heritage to a marked degree.

Chiang Mai is Thailand's second city, but in terms of quality of living, tourist attractions and development potential, it's second to none in Southeast-Asia.

More than 300 temples, among them some of the most beautiful and revered in the entire Buddhist world, give the city an atmosphere of calmness and timeless elegance.

Chiang Mai has a distinct international atmosphere with many foreign businesses and organizations (NGOs) locating in the city over the past decade due to her excellent infrastructure with international direct flight connections to all countries in the region including China, Singapore, Malaysia, Burma, Cambodia and Taiwan.

The quality of living is unsurpassed. Accommodation and food are of the highest standard at very low cost. Entertainment is plentiful with numerous festivals, outdoor activities and great nightlife.

Genuine adventure is to be found in the immediate vicinity of Chiang Mai with jungle tours, rafting, elephant riding and hill tribe villages to visit.

Some attractions

Wat Phra Borommathat is on Doi Suthep is a large golden pagoda in the center of the temple containing a part of the holy relics or the Lord Buddha. It's a holy spot visited throughout the year by Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world. This temple was built by King Gue-Na in 1383 A.D for the people who born in the Year of The Goat. Lanna People believe that to bring them highest prosperity, they should visit “Phra That” of their zodiac birth year, just event once in their lifetime.

Wat Phra Borommathat pagoda

Inside Wat Phra

Naga stairway 360 steps up to Wat Phra Borommathat

Phu phing Palace is on Doi Buak Ha, about 4 Kms from Doi Suthep. Phu Phing Palace is the Winter Royal Palace was build in 1962 and open to the public on Fridays Saturdays and Sundays as well as holidays, when the Thai Royal Family is not in residence.

Phuping Palace is a beautiful place full of flowers, a lot of trees and places to walk. Visitors can take pictures of the Palace from the outside and during December to January a lot of beautiful roses can be seen. In the area one can buy local handmade products, souvenirs at quite a reasonable price. This elegant little Palace is mainly used bythe Royal Family in January and February, when the cool season is at its best and the flowers at their most spectacular.

During this time there is a constant to-ing and fro-ing of helicopters as members of the Royal Family carry out their incredibly busy schedule, giving degrees to graduates, visiting royal projects and hilltribe villages and receiving a constant flow of visitors. Presidents, Kings and Queens from all over the world have relaxed in this beautiful Palace. The Palace is situated high up in the mountains, four kilometres above Wat Doi Suthep and it can not be seen from Chiang Mai. In the cool season the extensive gardens are a glorious display of temperate flowers.

Phu phing palace

Phu phing palace

Hmong Tribal Village - Doi Pui: it located in a valley just north-west of Doi Pui on Doi Suthep Pui National Park. The Hmong has make the village their home by selling Hmong crafts and other souvenirs. Hmong are only one of the hill tribes in northern Thailand. This village is home to more than 200 households of the Hmong people. Their livelihood depends not on the swiddening agriculture of the past, but merchandising.

Some people argue that the `traditional way of life' apparently being followed is simply an appearance, with commerce the hard reality that underwrites the continuing visits by paying tourists.

Be that as it may, the Hmong Village on Doi Pui is worth a visit. Apart from the colourfully-clad villagers, also of interest here are the Opium Museum and the Hilltribe Museum. For centuries, the tribe has been an opium grower of importance. The Opium Museum documents how the crop is cultivated and processed, and displays some of the implements used in opium production.

Hmong kid with her traditional dress on Doi Pui

Hmong crafts

Chiang Mai Zoo was established by the The Zoological Park Organization, Thailand in 1974. Situated on 531 Rai of verdant forest land at the foothill of Doi Suthep mountain, the zoo is surrounded by hilly terrain which is home to thousands of species of wild plants and flowers adorning the natural landscape of valleys, streams and waterfalls.

Chiang Mai Zoo is the first and only zoo in Northern Thailand where visitors can experience the excitement and intimacy of various species of animals in their natural habitat.

Doi Inthanon National Park: is one of the best equipped to welcome visitors. It is Thailand's highest mountain and towers 2,565 metres above sea level. Doi Inthanon covers some 1,005 square kilometers. It offers marvellous natural scenery. There are beautiful waterfalls throughout the park. These include the Siriphum, Vajirathan, Mae Pan, Mae Klang, and, the largest of all, Mae Ya waterfalls. Meo and Karen hilltribes inhabit the park. To get to Doi Inthanon take Highway 108 and turn to Highway No.1009 at km.57.

Visit the Doi Inthanon National Park is possible throughout the year. The best period for viewing wild flowers is December through February. The best period for watch the birds or camp is November through March. 

The Great Holy Relics Pagoda

Mae Ya Waterfall: The North of Thailand is famous for its many waterfalls and one of the most beautiful in Chiang Mai province is Nam Tok Mae Ya. This waterfall is thought to be the highest in Thailand and is well worth the extra effort to get there.

Nam Tok Mae Ya is a beautiful, fanning cascade, dropping down an ever-widening series of steps. The water tumbles down a 100 m cliff in a series of spectacular leaps and National Park officials estimate that the Mae Ya River plunges more than 250 m at this point. At the bottom is a cool pool where children can swim and enjoy the pleasant picnic area. It is without a doubt, a photographic favorite for most visitors.
 

MaeYa waterfall

Mae Klang Waterfall: The waterfall is reached via Highway 108 to km 57 (just 1 km before the village of Chom Thong). Turn right onto Highway 1009 and continue 8 km to where the road forks. Mae Klang is 300 m straight ahead. The summit road forks to the right, reaching Park Headquarters near km 31 and the summit of Doi Inthanon at km 48. Once there, the waterfall provides a picturesque setting for picnics and relaxation. The area is fast becoming popular with many international visitors as well as local Chiang Mai families who own homes along the riverside.

The rapids and waterfall spill over a wide exposure of granite and can be approached closely. Rocky paths climb up beside the 30 m high falls and if you reach the top there is a fine view. Visitors are asked to exercise caution around the waterfall area and while swimming either above or below the falls. There are food, drink and souvenir stalls at the entrance and below the main falls. Across the bridge are the beautifully laid out gardens of the northern branch of Wat Chai Monkon, a famous Bangkok temple. In the grounds is a spectacular chedi containing a lift. There is also an enormous Buddha statue made out of one piece of Canadian greenstone. A well-maintained trail leads up the side of the waterfall and continues to the Visitor Center and beyond.

Mae Klang Waterfall

Wachirathan Waterfall: Nam Tok Wachirathan waterfall is on the route to Doi Inthanon and is a thirty-minute drive from Nam Tok Mae Klang. It is a beautiful scenic spot for picnics and is reached by a short, easy trail from the parking area. Nam Tok Wachirathan tumbles down a granite escarpment, creating a misty veil of great beauty. Visitors should be very cautious, as three people have tragically fallen to their deaths while taking photographs.

Just a short distance on the main road beyond the waterfall is the small Karen hill tribe village of Ban Sop Had. If you turn right just past the bridge you will find the village a few hundred meters up the dirt access road.

Wachirathan Waterfall

Another attractions in ChiangMai

Wat Suan Dok has the largest temple royal was built in 14th century. It is a favourite spot for photographers

Wat Phra Singh a lagest temple was built by King Pha Yoo in 1345

Wat Phra Singh

Wat Chiang Man was build 1306 onward is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai. It enshrines the Crystal Buddha, one of the greatest treasures in Thailand

Wat Chedi Luang (Temple of the Big Stupa) was built in 1391 is an impressive ruined temple in the center of Chiang Mai

Sao Inta Kin or City Pillar is believed to house the guardian spirit of the city. It's situated in Wat Chedi Luang

Wat Kuta is situated in town, was built in 1613 A.D. in the shape of five guards of diminishing sizes and beautifully decorated with colored porcelain, representing  five lord Buddha's.

Wat Ched Yot is situated in town, was built in 1477 A.D. by King Thilokanat

The ancient city of Wiang Kum Kam  was established by King Mengrai in 1286 AD as the first Capital of Lanna

The Chiang Mai Night Safari, Chiang Mai's nocturnal zoo is one of the largest in Asia and considered by many to be the most beautiful night safari in the world