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Chiang Mai Thailand Travel Guide
 Chiang Mai has always been an exceptional place and Thais have always been justifiably proud of their beautiful northern capital. They don't call it the 'jewel of the north' without reason. Although it is the second city of Thailand it is very different from Bangkok.
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A thousand years ago when the whole of what is now Thailand was ruled by the Khmers of the empire of Angkor it was the Kingdom of Lanna around Chiang Mai that was the only place to keep its independent identity. Stretching from Mae Hong Son across the north to Luang Phrabang in what is now Laos, Lanna always had a distinctive and pure culture and Chiang Mai was at its heart. Eventually the Khmers were first driven out of Siam and then subjugated and Lanna, allied with the empire of Sukhothai, was then subject to the ravages of Burmese invaders. Once they were vanquished by the King of Ayutthaya, Lanna became part of what is now Thailand.
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In Chiang Mai history is everywhere. In the walled moat defining the original town.  In the spires of the hundreds of glittering wats that dot the old town and in the language of the people which is a dialect so distinct that people from outside have a problem understanding it. Chiang Mai, however, is no dry museum. Its position at the crossroads of Asian trade routes has always meant that it is a lively cross cultural place thriving on commerce and change and this is still true today. The night Bazaar is a bustling ant heap of trade where you can find an amazing variety of northern arts, crafts, antiques, furniture and clothing. It is actually a worldwide trade hub because of the quality and the prices.
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Add into the equation the fact that Chiang Mai is also a center of learning with one of the most respected universities in the country attracting an eclectic and lively academic community. The area around the university on Nimmanhemin Road is packed with trendy bistros, fashionable coffee shops, bookshops and lively nightclubs all under the misty shadow of the mountain of Doi Suthep.
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Around Chiang Mai is some of the most wild and beautiful mountainous countryside in Asia peopled by a variety of ethnic tribal groups. Chiang Mai is a veritable Mecca for trekkers, ethnologists, cyclists and serious motorcyclists.
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There is plenty to see in Chiang Mai. The temples alone (there are over 300 of them) would take an age. Some of the most important ones within the town are Wat Chiang Man, Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phan Tao, Wat Jet Yot, Wat Suan Dok, Wat Ku Tao and Wat U Mong. In a mixture of Northern Thai, Yunnanese and Burmese styles every one of them has its own significance.
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Perhaps the most visited temple is actually 16km out of Chiang Mai high up the mountain.  Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is one of the north's most sacred temples. It was built in 1383 under the Lanna king, Keu Naone. Leading up to the temple is a 'naga', or snake, staircase of 500 steps. For those who are daunted by the climb there is also an elevator. At the top is a glittering, near perfect, wat. Inside the central courtyard is a Lanna style copper plated chedi over which is a glittering five tiered golden umbrella. This place may be full of tourists but being one of the holiest places in the Kingdom it is also full of worshippers making clockwise rounds of the stupa lighting holy candles and pouring sacred oils. There are also great views of the city on the journey up the mountain.
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Nightlife is muted in Chiang Mai but there is still plenty to do. By the River Ping there are a number of excellent restaurants with live music. The Riverside is the most established with a candle lit terrasse right by the water. In town there are restaurants serving dishes from all over the world and in the Night Bazaar are numerous stalls selling excellent Thai food.
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Loi Kroh road is a loud but small strip of bars with the usual formula of hostesses and pool tables. There are also quite a number of nightclubs the best known being Bubbles in the Pornping hotel or the Warmup on Nimmanhemin if you want to sample the bohemian Thai student scene.
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Chiang Mai is getting more crowded and the traffic is getting worse, but it retains something unique. It has everything you could want from a modern city in an atmosphere that is both beautiful and suffused with an incredible depth of culture and history.
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About The Author
Alex Smith maintains and manages the Cheap Thailand Travel website at http://www.cheapthaitravel.com - All of the materials on this site are the sole property and responsibility of Cheapthaitravel.com. This material may not be reproduced in any form without express written permission.
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Travel Guide Chiang Rai