Sightseeing in Chiang Mai - what to see. Complete travel guide

This is one of the largest cities of Thailand, which continues growing actively. The city's name can be read differently, but when translated from Thai it means "new castle". This ancient cultural center was built in the end of the XIII century and founded by king Mengrai.

It is believed that Thailand attracts visitors primarily as a beach rest destination. However, this city is for those who like to keep their eyes and mind wide open. Here you will find as much as 300 vats (Buddhist temples), each of which deserves special attention and description. You can get acquainted with culture of this ancient nation by visiting culinary schools that teach attendants the secrets of most famous Thai dishes. However, traditional festivals that are frequently held in the city are the most interesting ones. These are the three-day long Flower Festival and Loi Krathong, as well as Songkran devoted to New Year (according to the local calendar). During the days of festivals thousand yearlong traditions of the finest folk flourish in all their glory.

Don’t forget to visit the wonderful Doi Suthep-Pui National Park famous for its picturesque Doi Suthep Mountain. If you visit this place, you will understand why this city with its amazing nature and wide choice of unique ancient monuments is called a paradise for lovers of tourism. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The old Doi Suthep Temple is one of the most important churches not only in the city, but also in the whole country. It was built in 1383. At that time, this great temple was located on the territory of the Lanna Kingdom. Now, it is located in the surroundings of the city. Travelers can visit it on their own, as well as in the context of excursions. The temple attracts with its spectacular interior in the traditional style. On its territory, you can see a lot of beautiful statues and old constructions.

The National Museum of Chiang Mai is very popular with the city guests. It is the largest cultural center in the northern region of Thailand. The museum was opened in 1973. In 1996, it was completely reconstructed for the first time. The large collection of museum exhibits is divided into several themed groups. The visitors can see unique pieces of art, household articles, religious items, and archeological artifacts found in the city surroundings.

The oldest temple in the city is Chiang Man built in 1296 when Chiang Mai had been just found. For hundreds of years, the temple has housed unique Buddhist relics. The most valuable of them are ancient pictures of Buddha, the age of some of which is about 2 000 years. Another interesting artifact is the statue of Buddha of the whole quartz crystal. It is connected with many interesting legends. The temple servants state that it is possible to cause rain with this statue.

The Chedi Luang Temple has a very interesting history. It was founded in 1454. Initially, the stupa was 86 m high. Unfortunately, the temple hasn’t been preserved in its original form. In the middle of the 16th century, the temple was damaged by the earthquake, which reduced the height of the stupa to one third. It was restored completely only in 1992. Today, the temple is the highest construction in the historic district.

The Museum of Insects and Nature Wonders is a perfect place for family excursions. Its founder was one of the local entomologists. The museum houses interesting natural-science exhibits. Here, its visitors can see the collection of rare butterflies and insects. The founder himself gives excursions around the museum, which makes it more interesting.