Chiang Mai, Thailand: Merging History and Craft

History of Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is a 700 year old city in Thailand. Originally, the city was built as a neat and tidy square surrounded by a moat, a fortified wall and four main gates. Founded by King Mengrai in 1296, it was for a time the capital of the Lannathai kingdom.

Later, it was captured by the Burmese and lost its importance to the point that it was abandoned for approximately fifteen years. Then in 1774, Chiang Mai became a part of Siam and was reborn. It now is second only to Bangkok and is considered the unofficial capital of northern Thailand.

Chiang Mai’s Temples

Chiang Mai has over 300 temples known as Wats. There are a few that are note worthy. The Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is considered to be the most famous temple in the area. Located in the North west of the city, it dates back to 1383. Wat Chiang Mai is the oldest temple in the city. It was home to King Mengrai during the construction of the city. It also holds two Buddha images of importance -the Phra Sila and the Phra Satang Man. If you want to see classical northern Thai architecture, take a look at the Wat Phra Singh. The Wat U-Mong is located outside of the city but is a wonderful place for meditation and different from Chiang Mai’s other temples. The Wat Chet Yot located outside of the city is known for its seven spires square. The Wat Chedi Luang originally had a 280 foot high pagoda but during 1545, it was partially destroyed by an earthquake. However, it is still something to see, with a mythical snake staircase accenting the front porch.

Handicrafts in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is known for its wood carvings but you can find anything in the way of crafts in Chiang Mai. There are handmade umbrellas that seem a trademark of Thailand. The one thing they are known for is that their handicrafts are hand done and are made of all natural materials.

Chiang Mai is Thailand’s major center for quality handicrafts. There are many to choose from. The umbrellas, silk, cotton fabrics, silverware, jewelry and pottery are all created within the city and many can be viewed by the visitors. Here you know you’re getting genuine hand made and crafted items. If you don’t want to travel around, there is a night market that brings all these crafts together in the same place for shopping.

Hope you find this information useful while visiting Chiang Mai. Enjoy your stay!

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