Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai is located in the very northern of Thailand (180kms northern of Chiang Mai). It requires around. 3hrs. to generate from Chiang Mai or less than an time by aircraft. There are also immediate routes from Bangkok. Chiang Rai is used as a platform for those wanting to discover the Fantastic Triangular place, it is a shorter generate to Mae Sai, Chiang Saen or Mae Salong. The region region with Burma and Laos, so it provides a excellent chance for those who wish to look Thailand's nearby nations around the world. This place can quickly be utilized from Chiang Mai, but for those shorter of your energy and effort or who have already frequented Chiang Mai it can be used as a platform to check out the Fantastic Triangular. Chiang Rai itself is the suburbs and simple to get around, there are some popular wats value viewing, a little nightmarket and a persons art gallery.The Record of Chiang Rai goes to 1262, when Master Mengrai decided a new investment to get rid of his conquests in the Lanna country. He decided the provide day website of Chiang Rai. However he wasn't to stay here for lengthy and as his places converted southwards, he shifted his investment to Chiang Mai. The Burmese filled Chiang Rai during the Sixteenth to the 1700s and like Chiang Mai it wasn't until the Last millennium that it became aspect of Thailand.

Chiang Rai is the capital of Chiang Rai Province in Northern Thailand. The town has a population of around 62,000 and is the main commercial centre serving the Golden Triangle border region of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. It is an excellent base for exploring the region.

Despite its rich and fascinating history, Chiang Rai province rather surprisingly has only a limited number of memorable historical sites to intrigue and enthrall visitors. Even so, there are still a few good temples worth visiting such as Wat Phra Keo and Wat Phra Singh, as well as a number of statues and monuments in the provincial capital. Further a field, the town of Chiang Saen probably offers the best in the way of ancient ruins from the Chiang Rai's glorious and historical past.

Climate

There are three seasons in a year the rainy season from June to October, the hot season from March to May, and the cool season from November to February. Generally, Chiang Mai is cool and pleasant for the most parts of the year. The coolest months are December and January. The temperature throughout the year varies between 14 - 30C, while the yearly average temperature is 26C.

Languages

Standard Thai is used as the official language, but the northern dialect is more widely spoken among the local people. English is understood in business circles and tourist areas

Wat Phra That Doi Tung

Wat Phra That Doi Tung is situated on top of Doi Tung Mountain - the highest mountain in Chiang Rai province with an elevation of 2,000 m.It is located about 50 km south of the town of Mae Sai, near the border with Myanmar.
One gets to the wat via a meandering mountain road, which winds its way up and down the mountainsides for about 40 km. The panoramic views into Laos and Myanmar at the peak are spectacular, so well worth the journey.

Wat Phra That Doi Tung is thought to be 10th century and Chiang Rai's most famous ruler King Mengrai carried out substantial renovations during the 13th century.
At the turn of the 20th century, the famous Chiang Mai monk, Khru Ba Siwichai, carried out further renovations on the wat.

The wat complex boasts twin Lanna style chedi, one of which is said to contain the left collarbone of the lord Buddha. Throughout the year, the holy relic draws devout Buddhists from all over Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.
Wat Phra That Chedi Luang

Wat Phra That Chedi Luang is situated in the small ancient historical town of Chiang Saen, a former principality of the kingdom of Lanna. It is located next door to the Chiang Rai provincial branch of the National Museum.
The origins of Wat Phra That Chedi Luang are not entirely clear, though most experts agree it was likely as not built sometime between the 12th and 14th centuries - with a common belief that King Saen Phu may have had it constructed around 1331, as the town's principal monastery. This theory makes sense bearing in mind the mixture of classic Lanna and Chiang Saen styles that the wat still reflects.

Like many other wats from this particular period, Wat Phra That Chedi Luang has unfortunately over the centuries fallen into a sad state of disrepair - with most of the ruins are now covered in mold and long grass. Nevertheless, it still boasts a fine brick built octagonal shape base chedi, which at nearly 60 m tall was once the highest religious structure in the Lanna kingdom.
The wat's wihan building is also in quite a bad state and is currently being protected by a rather inappropriate and presumably only stopgap corrugated iron roof!

Phra Tamnak Doi Tung
Apart from Wat Phra That Doi Tung, also situated on the Doi Tung Mountain is a beautiful royal residence known as Phra Tamnak Doi Tung.

The royal villa is situated on the slopes of the adjacent Pa Kluay Reservoir. It was originally built on the theory that the local hill tribes would be honored by the royal presence and thereby bring an end to the practice of opium cultivation.

It was also meant to serve as a royal winter retreat for the Princess Mother, who passed away in 1995, but who had previously set up the Doi Tung Development Project in 1987. The main attraction for visitors to Phra Tamnak Doi Tung is the 'Suan Mae Fa Luang' - the beautiful landscaped gardens of the villa filled with hundreds of different kinds of plants and flowers, and named in her honor.

Phra Tamnak Doi Tung
Apart from Wat Phra That Doi Tung, also situated on the Doi Tung Mountain is a beautiful royal residence known as Phra Tamnak Doi Tung.

The royal villa is situated on the slopes of the adjacent Pa Kluay Reservoir. It was originally built on the theory that the local hill tribes would be honored by the royal presence and thereby bring an end to the practice of opium cultivation.

It was also meant to serve as a royal winter retreat for the Princess Mother, who passed away in 1995, but who had previously set up the Doi Tung Development Project in 1987. The main attraction for visitors to Phra Tamnak Doi Tung is the 'Suan Mae Fa Luang' - the beautiful landscaped gardens of the villa filled with hundreds of different kinds of plants and flowers, and named in her honor.