CHIANG MAI
Chiang Dao Cave (Tham
Chiang Dao)
Tham Chiang Dao is a charming cave located in
Amphoe Chiang Dao. It is situated 72 kilometres from Chiang Mai
town, Climb a staircase with a zinc roof to reach the cave. The
lovely cave greets visitors with various kinds of fish swimming
in a stream in front of the cave.
Tribal Museum
Tribal Museum is in King Rama IX Lanna Garden
on Chotana Road. This is an ethnology museum featuring the
indigenous culture of 9 hill tribes including Karen (Kariang),
Hmong (Meo), Mien (Yao), Lisu (Liso), Akha (Iko), Lahu (Musoe),
Lau,Thin, and Khamu including the minority tribe of Malabri.
Each tribe possesses unique identity and culture.
Khantoke Dinner
Most of the northern dishes can be sampled at
a "Khantoke Dinner" in Chiang Mai. It is a perfect event where
you can learn more about traditional northern cuisine while
enjoying traditional music and dance. Khantok in the Northern
dialect means a wooden tray used for carrying dishes. Round in
shape, it is made of wood, varnished or lacquered with 5 or 6
short supporting legs.
Guests are invited to sit on the floor around a Khantok, a
circular tray with Northern dishes on it. They can enjoy
watching traditional northern dances as well as hilltribe
culture shows while their meal is being served.
The main dishes on the Khantok usually are steamed sticky rice,
kaeng hang-le (northern-style pork curry), kaeng ho (spicy curry
of bean vermicelli), kaeng om (spicy curry of entrails), sai ua
(Chiang Mai sausage), lap (minced meat, half cooked and highly
seasoned), nam phrik ong (chili paste with minced pork and
tomatoes), which usually goes with khaep mu (crispy pork rinds)
and khao soi (chicken/ pork /beef curry soup with noodles.
Guests are encouraged to eat with their hands, as the locals do.
The eating procedure is easy: take a handful of steamed sticky
rice from the bamboo basket, roll, and dip it into the curry or
chili paste and then taste it.
After the meal, a dessert called khao taen fried sticky rice
covered with caramel is served. Also served are khiyo cigars and
fermented tea, which is chewed to help digestion. The khiyo
cigar is made of shredded tobacco and ground tamarind bark (khiyo),
which can reduce the strong odor of tobacco.
During the Khantok Dinner, several dances and shows are
performed. The most popular Northern dance is fon lep or
fingernail dance. This show is impressive as female dancers are
dressed in Northern Thai style, and wear long pointed brass
fingernails.
Night Bazaar
The Night Bazaar is a shopping haven where
one can find handmade products and souvenirs from many Chiang
Mai villages and hill tribes. Local cloths and fabrics are
reasonably priced for purchasing. The shopping street opens
around 6:00 p.m
Wat Chedi Luang
This 14th century temple, where the City
Pillar Shrine is located, is famous for its enormous chedi,
which is measured at 282 feet high and 144 feet wide (at the
base). Located right in the middle of the city, it is considered
to be the largest chedi in Chiang Mai. Its spire collapsed in
1545 due to an earthquake. A pair of magnificent Naga staircases
at the front porch of the chapel is among the most beautiful
manmade serpents in the North. Chao Khun Uba Lee Poramacharn (Sirichantathera)
and Chao Kaeo Navarat built the front chapel in 1928
Wat Chiang Man
The oldest temple in Chiang Mai town, Wat
Chiang Man was built in 1296 by King Mengrai, the founder of
Chiang Mai. The temple is famous for its Lanna-style chedi
supported by rows of elephant-shaped buttresses and an ancient
and invaluable Buddha image named Phra Kaeo Khao.
Wat Phra Sing
Built in 1345, the temple is located on Sam
Lan Road. It houses the North's most revered Buddha statue, Phra
Phuttha Sihing which is enshrined in Vihan Lai Kham, a chapel
that features exquisite woodcarvings and northern style murals.
Every year on April 13, Songkran Day, the image is paraded
through the streets of Chiang Mai for local people to sprinkle
scented water on. This area was formerly Wat Li Chiang Market
until 1345, when King Pa Yu, the fifth king of the Meng Rai
Dynasty commanded the construction of this temple and a 24-feet
chedi to contain his father's ashes.
Wat Phratat Doi
Suthep
Locals would say, You havent really gone to
Chiang Mai unless youve been to Wat Phratat Doi Suthep. Truly,
the place is the most important and famous Chiang Mai landmark.
Built in 1383, this mountaintop temple has a chedi (pagoda) that
houses holy Buddha relics. The gold-plated chedi lies in the
middle of a square marble-tiled courtyard. The four corners of
the chedi are adorned with parasols which represent royal
regalia. The temples courtyard is lined by a cloister, which
contains images and murals depicting Buddhas life. There are
also two viharns situated in the middle of the east and west
sides of the cloister.
This temple is 15 kilometers from town and is 3,520 feet above
sea level. It is the perfect place to get a birds eye view of
the city.
Wat Prasat
Located on Inthawarorot Road, near Wat Phra
Sing, is Wat Prasat where a rare Lanna style Buddha image is
enshrined. The temple is composed of a traditional Lanna style
chapel, with its roof is decorated in colorful glasses and
carved wooden lions.
Wat Suan Dok
Another temple located on Suthep Road, Wat
Suan Dok was built in the 14th century and houses the 500-year
old bronze Buddha image which is one of Thailands largest metal
images. Several of the white chedis around the temple contain
ashes of Chiang Mai's former royal family
San Kamphaeng
The village is located 13 kilometers the east
of Chiang Mai town in a district that is famous for silk and a
cotton weaving. The silk and cotton souvenirs produced in this
village are high quality. Factories and souvenir shops selling
woodcarving, silverware, earth ware, lacquer ware and cotton
fabrics are located along the way from Chiang Mai to San
Kamphaeng.
Located in San Kamphaeng is Bo Sang a village that produces
handmade umbrellas. In addition to umbrellas, visitors will also
be able to find various woodcarving and Thai silk products here.
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