« Bangkok
Phuket »

Chiang Mai

Worlds bigest cities

Mai locally (Kham Muang) Jiang Mai), also sometimes written as “Chiengmai”, is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern , and is the capital of Mai Province. It is located some 700 km (435 mi) north of , among some of the in the country. The city stands on the , a major of the .

In recent years, Mai has become an increasingly modern city; and although it lacks the of , it has many attractions for the thousands of foreign visitors who come each year. Mai’s historic importance is derived from its strategic location on an ancient trade route. Long before the modern influx of foreign visitors, the city served as a major centre for handcrafted goods, umbrellas, jewelry (particularly silver) and woodcarving.

While officially the city (thesaban nakhon) of Mai only covers most parts of the Mueang Mai district with a population of 150,000, the urban sprawl of the city now extends into several neighboring districts. This Mai has a population of nearly 1 million people, more than half the total of Mai Province.

The city itself is subdivided into (khwaeng): Nakhon Ping, Srivijaya, Mengrai, and Kavila. The first three are on the west bank while Kavila is located on the east bank of the . Nakhon Ping district covers the north side of the city. Srivijaya, Mengrai, and Kavila cover the west, south, and east side respectively. The central part (the old walled town) is covered mostly by Srivijaya and partly by Nakhon Ping and Mengrai wards.[1]
Contents
[hide]

Wat Man, the oldest in the city
Wat Man, the oldest in the city

King Mengrai founded the city of Mai (meaning “new city”) in 1296, and it succeeded Rai as capital of the . To protect it against raids from Burma, the city was surrounded by a moat and a defensive wall. With the decline in power of the Lannathai kingdom, the city lost importance and often was occupied by either the Burmese or Thais from Ayutthaya. As a result of the Burmese wars that ended with the fall of Ayutthaya in April 1767, Mai was so depopulated that its remaining inhabitants abandoned the city from 1776 to 1791. During that time, Lampang functioned as the capital of what remained of Lannathai.

Mai formally became part of Siam in 1774, when the King Taksin captured it from the Burmese. Mai rose in both cultural, trading and economic terms to adopt its current status as the unofficial capital of the north of , second only in national importance to .

The people generally speak Kham Muang (also known as Northern or Lanna) amongst themselves, but the Central of is used in education and is understood by most. The old Kham Muang alphabet is now only studied by scholars and Northern is commonly written using the standard alphabet.

The modern municipal entity dates back to a sanitary district (sukhaphiban) created in 1915. It was upgraded to a municipality (thesaban) on March 29 1935, as published in the Royal Gazette, Book No.52 section 80. At first covering an area of 17.5 km2 (7 sq mi), it was enlarged to cover 40.216 km2 (16 sq mi) on April 5, 1983.[2]

[edit] Climate
[hide]Weather averages for Mai
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 29.4
(85) 32.2
(90) 34.9
(95) 36.1
(97) 34.0
(93) 32.6
(91) 31.8
(89) 31.3
(88) 31.5
(89) 31.3
(88) 29.8
(86) 28.3
(83) 31.9
(89)
Average low °C (°F) 14.2
(58) 15.6
(60) 19.0
(66) 22.4
(72) 23.7
(75) 23.9
(75) 23.8
(75) 23.6
(74) 23.1
(74) 22.1
(72) 19.2
(67) 15.3
(60) 20.5
(69)
Precipitation mm (inches) 7.7
(0.3) 9.2
(0.36) 19.2
(0.76) 54.1
(2.13) 153.0
(6.02) 117.3
(4.62) 153.2
(6.03) 224.6
(8.84) 200.2
(7.88) 118.1
(4.65) 51.3
(2.02) 18.3
(0.72) 1,126.2
(44.34)
Source: World Weather Information Service [3] 2008-09-02

[edit] Emblem

The city emblem shows the chedi on top of Doi Suthep in its center, as being the most important place of worship of Mai. Below are clouds referring to the moderate climate in the hills of northern . Below is a naga, the mythological snake which is said to be the source of the . Above the heads of the naga are rice stalks, the major crop referring to the fertility of the area.[4]

[edit] Religious sites
The chedi at Doi Suthep
The chedi at Doi Suthep

Mai has over 300 Buddhist temples (called “wat” in ). These include:

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep: the most famous temple in the area, standing on a hill to the north-west of the city. This temple dates from 1383. Its builders allegedly chose its site by placing a relic of the Lord Buddha on an elephant’s back and letting the elephant roam until it came across a place where it trumpeted and circled before lying down and eventually died. The onlookers took this as marking an auspicious place to build the temple. The temple’s location also affords superb views over the city on a clear day.

Wat Man: the oldest temple in Mai dating from the 13th century. King Mengrai lived here while overseeing the construction of the city. This temple houses two very important and venerated Buddha figures - Phra Sila (a marble Buddha) and Phra Satang Man (a crystal Buddha).

Wat Phra Singh: located within the city walls, dates from 1345 and offers an example of classic northern style architecture. It houses the Phra Singh Buddha, a highly venerated figure, transferred here many years ago from Rai. This temple is one of the most important temples in the city. Visitors can also take part in meditation classes here at set times.

Wat Chedi Luang: founded in 1401 and dominated by the large Lanna style chedi which dates from the same time, but took many years to finish. An earthquake damaged the chedi in the 16th century and now only two-thirds of it remains.

Wat Ched Yot: located on the outskirts of the city, this temple, built in 1455, hosted the Eighth World Buddhist Council in 1977.

Wiang Kum Kam: the site of an old city situated on the southern outskirts of Mai. King Mengrai used this for ten years before the founding of Mai. The site has a large number of ruined temples.

Wat U-Mong: a forest and cave wat in the foothills in the west of the city, near Mai University. Wat U-Mong is known for its grotesque concrete fasting Buddha and hundreds of pithy Buddhist proverbs in English and posted on trees throughout its grounds.

Wat Suan Dok: a 14th century temple located just west of the old city-wall. The temple was built by the King of Lanna for a revered monk visiting from Sukhothai to spend the rains retreat. The name translates as “the field of flowers temple.” There are several unique aspects to this temple. One is the temple’s large ubosot (ordination hall). This is unusual not only for its size, but also that it is open on the sides instead of enclosed. Secondly, there are a large number of chedis housing the ashes of the rulers of Mai. The temple is also the site of Mahachulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya Buddhist University.

[edit] Culture
Launched Khom Loi during Loi
Launched Khom Loi during Loi
An open square section of the bazaar
An open square section of the bazaar

Mai hosts many festivals, including:

* Loi (known locally as Yi Peng): on a full-moon in November. Every year thousands of people assemble floating banana-leaf containers (krathong) decorated with flowers and candles onto the waterways of the city to worship the Goddess of Water. Lanna-style hot-air lanterns (khom fai) are launched into the air. These are believed to help rid the locals of troubles and are also taken to decorate houses and streets.
* Songkran: in mid-April to celebrate the traditional new year. Mai has become one of the most popular locations to visit for this festival. A variety of religious and fun-related activities (notably the good-natured city-wide water-fight) take place each year, along with parades and a Miss Songkran competition.
* Flower Festival: A three-day festival during the first weekend in February each year, this event occurs when Mai’s temperate and tropical flowers are in full bloom. The festivities include floral floats, parades, traditional dancing shows, and a contest.

Some of the museums in Mai:

* Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre.
* Mai National highlights the of the region and the Kingdom of Lanna.
* Tribal showcases the of the local mountain tribes.

Mai has several universities, including Mai University, Chiangmai Rajabhat University, Rajamangala University of Technology, Payap University, and Maejo University — as well as numerous technical and teacher colleges. Mai University was the first government university established outside of .

Mai is a regional centre for a number of activities such as:

* Hill-tribe tourism and trekking: A large number of tour companies offer organised treks among the local hills and forests on foot and on elephant back. Most also involve visits to the various local hill tribes. These include representatives from the Akha, Hmong, Karen, and Lisu tribes.
* Elephant : Approximately 60 km (37 mi) north of the city or about one hour drive, the Elephant is home to approximately 30 rescued elephants. You can visit the with options ranging from a day trip to volunteering.
* Other outdoor activities: The varied local terrain offers opportunities for mountain biking, elephant riding, bamboo rafting, and kayaking. The area has several golf courses. The nearby national that includes Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain in , features many hiking trails. Also past San Khampaeng, about 45 minutes outside of the cities is the village of Kon Phong. It’s home to multiple tea and coffee plantations and also has an eco-friendly zipline tour, Flight of the Gibbon, that donates profits to gibbon conservation.
* Shopping: Mai has a large and famous nightly bazaar for arts, handicrafts, and counterfeit products of all descriptions, and a number of large, well-appointed modern shopping centres. The bazaar alone sprawls along several city blocks along sidewalks, inside buildings, and in open squares. In addition a handicraft and food market is every Sunday evening on Rachadamnoen road (the main street in the historical centre) which is then closed down for motorised traffic, attracting many local residents and tourists.
* massage: The back streets and main thoroughfares of Mai have a variety of massage parlours which offer anything from quick, simple, face and foot massages, to month-long courses in the art of massage.
* cookery: A number of cooking schools have their home in Mai (see also food)

[edit] Transportation
Songthaew on in Mai
Songthaew on in Mai
Tuktuks waiting for passengers near Tapae Gate in Mai
Tuktuks waiting for passengers near Tapae Gate in Mai

Bus, train and air connections serve Mai well. A number of bus stations link the city to central and northern . The Pheuak terminal (north of Puak Gate) provides local services within Mai province and the Mai Arcade bus terminal north-east of the city (requires Songthaew or tuk tuk ride, see below) provides services to over 20 other destinations in including , Ayutthaya, and Phitsanulok. There are several services a day from Mai Arcade terminal to (a 10–12 hour journey).

The state railway operates 14 trains a day to Mai Station from . Most journeys run overnight and take approximately 12–15 hours. Most trains offer first-class (private cabins) and a second-class (seats fold out to make sleeping berths) service.

To get to cities such as Hong Son or Rai a plane or bus must be used. No trains are available to cities north of Mai.

Mai International Airport receives up to 28 flights a day from (flight time about 1 hour 10 minutes) and also serves as a local hub for services to other northern cities such as Rai, Phrae and Hong Son. International services also connect Mai with other regional centres, including Hong Kong (China), Jinghong, (China), Kaohsiung (Taiwan), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Kunming (China), Luang Phrabang (Laos), Mandalay (Myanmar), Manila (Philippines), Seoul (Korea), Siem Reap (Cambodia), Singapore (Singapore), and Taipei (Taiwan).

The local preferred form of transport is personal motorbike and, increasingly, private car. In recent years, the number of private vehicles on the road has begun to result in traffic congestion in major arteries during peak travel times. Motorbikes are available for hire from many places in the city, and tourists take advantage of this service.

Local public transport is provided in three forms: tuktuks, songthaews (the latter known locally as rot daeng, literally “red car”), and the recently re-launched, though infrequent, Mai Bus service. Local Songthaew fare is usually 20 baht per person for trips in and around the city. Tuktuk fare is usually at least 50 baht per trip (comfortable for two, but some can squeeze in four passengers); fare increases with distance. The fare is negotiable with the driver before boarding. Songthaews and tuktuks normally operate until about 11pm or midnight, and then become scarce and more expensive to ride. Metered taxis are available from the airport with a 50 baht airport fee paid at a counter, plus the metered charge paid to the driver (60 baht on the meter gets you into the moated area). Tipping is not expected. Mai’s fledgling local bus service was relaunched in 2006. It serves routes in and around the city, although the service itself lacks the frequency and route mass as is available in other major cities. Unlike , which has the Metro and Skytrain, Mai does not have rapid transit public transport infrastructure.

’s northern capital is a favourite among tourists and Thais alike. In Mai, no guide is necessary as the city is ideal for exploring by yourself. Sight seeing and tours of Mai are popular activities and you can wander among historic ruins, admire exquisite temples or simply sit quietly beside the moat and soak up the charm of this sleepy city.

Surprisingly cheap and somewhat cooler than the south, Mai is surrounded by mountainous terrain and offers plenty of sight seeing activities, tours and great shopping to complement the hospitality of its many hotels, guest houses and restaurants. Simply pick up one of the many Mai guide magazines freely available everywhere. See a full list of Mai attractions.
Novice monks entering the temple
Novice monks entering the temple

Mai has been a significant settlement of the since King Mengrai founded a new capital here 1296. With an old town uniquely surrounded by a pretty moat and historic ramparts, the city has become famous for its handicrafts, Northern culture and hill trekking excursions into the nearby mountains.

Most guesthouses and hotels are situated within or near the square mile of the old town. The moat and five restored gates protect the hundreds of temples that are found among the quiet lanes within. Thapae gate (with its market square) is the most central, and from here you can walk eastwards to the . If you prefer the help of a friendly Mai guide, then pick one up at one of the many agents about town.
Chedi Luang is a landmark in the old city
Chedi Luang is a landmark in the old city

Of the 300 hundred ornately decorated Buddhist temples in the city, the most famous include; Wat Phra Singh (with its Sinhalese Buddha), Wat Man (the oldest - c1300), Wat Chedi Luang (with an enormous ruined landmark chedi) and Wat Phan Tao (entirely constructed from teak). Wat Jet Yod and Wat Suan Dawk, a little out of town, are both over 500 years old and have fascinating histories. Sights of Mai Old Town.

A trip to the top of Doi Suithep (mountain) that presides over the west of the city is a must. Its temple is one of ’s most revered and the views of the entire valley are fantastic. Increasingly popular are trips to the excavated old Mai settlement of Wiang Kum Kham, southwest of the city. These 13th century ruins were only recently re-discovered. Mai is also a good launching point for hill treks which include river rafting, elephant riding and visits to hill tribe villages, and many tour operators are found in the city centre if you need an excursion guide. Sightseeing Day trips from Mai.
Travellers footage: Elephant rodeo ride!

Mai’s enormous bazaar is one of the best-value places in to shop, and is loaded with silk clothing and handicrafts. In fact, Mai has plenty to offer by , and along the Ping’s riverbanks are several lively restaurants and bars; some even offer boat trips up the river. The Loy Kroh and Moon Muang areas are a little seedy, though popular with some and are a good place for a (legitimate) traditional massage.

In Mai, let your curiosity be your guide.

Related Blogs

  • Related Blogs on

This entry was posted on Monday, October 13th, 2008 at 12:54 pm and is filed under Thailand. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Leave a Reply