Chiangrai
King Meng Rai the Great Monument | |
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| Ku Phra Chao Meng Rai | |
| Situated in Wat Ngam Muang, on Ngam Muang Hillock, this stupa contains King Mengrai's ashes and relics. | |
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| Wat Phra That Doi Thong |
| This ancient hilltop pagoda overlooks the Mae Kok River and predates the founding of Chiang Rai as the capital of Lanna Thai. |
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| Wat Phra Singha |
| This temple, on Singhakhlai Road, is a fine example of Lanna Thai religious architecture. The Phra Buddha Singh image now hourse in Chaing Mai's Wat Phra Singh was formerly enshrined here. |
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| Hat Chiang Rai |
| Located 5 kilometres from the city, this scenic riverside area and promenade is a recreation area for local inhabitants. |
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| Mae Kok River |
| Known in Thai as Maenam Kok, this scenic 130-kilometre long waterway runs through the heart of Chiang Rai. The river is a major transportation artery from neighboring Chaing Mai province, especially the town of Tha Ton (180 kilometres north of Chaing Mai provincial capital), whence tong-tailed boats make the 3-4 hour journey every day at 12.30 PM (Chaing Rai-Tha Ton: 10.30 AM). The river passes several hilltribe settlements and elephant camps from where jungle treks originate. |
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| Khun Korn Forest Park Waterfall | |
| Located 30 kilometres south of Chiang Rai provincial capital, along Routes 1211 & 1208, the 70-metre high Khun Korn Waterfall is considered the highest the most beautiful in Chiang Rai. |  |
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| Ancient Town | |
| This riverside town facing the Mekong River is 30 kilometres from Mae Chan via Highway No. 1016, predates Chiang Rai and is famous for a special style of Buddha image. |  |
| This petite museum exhibits local objets díart, including Chiang Saen-style Buddha images and Lanna Thai artifacts. The museum is open on Wednesdays - Sundays from 9.00 AM until 4.00 PM, except national holidays. |  |
| Wat Phra That Chedi Luang | |
| This ancient 88-metre high brick pagoda, next to the museum, is the tallest religious monument in Chaing Rai. Built in 1291, this temple houses the biggest chedi in Chiang Saen. It is a bell-shapped chedi with an octagonal base. The main hall and other surrounding chedis have all fallen in ruins. | |
| Wat Pa Sak | |||
| Located outside the city walls, some 200 metres from the Tourist Service Centre, this deserted temple, with ornamental stucco motifs, is regarded as being one of the most beautiful examples of Lanna architecture in northern Thailand. In 1295, Prince Saen Phu built this temple to contain Buddha's relics. He also had 300 teak trees planted in the temple compound. Wat Pa Sak sits on 16 acre of land. There are 22 historic remains on the temple grounds. The main bell-shaped chedi has five tapering spires. The chedi at Wat Pa Sak are considered to be the best physical condition as well as the most beautiful of Lanna Style. The pattern and design on the chedi reflect artistic development in Chiang Saen, revealing its original adoption of Sukhothai, Pagan (Phukam), and Hariphunchai artistric styles. Through the process of cultural transformation, a unique Chiang Saen style was realized. It has since become the prototype of Lanna chedis. |
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| This hilltop temple has a pagoda containing a Buddha relic. This temple challenges it visitors to climb up 339 steps in order to admire its beauty. It is, however, also accessible by car. King Phangkharat had this shrine built to contain Buddha's relics. In 1487, Muen Chiang Song had a new pagoda built to cover the old pagoda. Anothe pagoda containing Buddha's relics in the area is Phra That Chom Chaeng. A look-out point behind this pagoda offers a vantage point to enjoy the Mekong vista.
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| Wat Phra That Pha-Ngao | ||||
| Located 4 kilometres along the Chaing Saen-Chaing Khong road, this temples hilltop pagoda offers a spectacular view of the Mekong River and Laos. Built uniquely on a big slab of solid rock, Phra That Pha Ngao is a relatively small bell-shaped pagoda. Another slab of rock stands in front of the pagoda as though it were the shadow. Thus derived the name "pha-ngao", meaning the rock shadow. Initially, this temple was called Wat Sop Kham. Its former location was by Mekong River, and the temple was annually eroded by the tides. Townspeople thus agreed to rebuild the temple further inland by a deserted temple at the foot of Doi Kham. During the construction, they found under the base of the old Buddha image a magnificent Chiang Saen style statuette in subduing mara posture. After half of the Buddha image was revealed, the excavation was stopped and a prayer has was built to cover it. The image was called "Luang Pho Pha Ngao". |
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| Chaing Saen Lake | |
| South of Chaing Saen, along Highway No. 1016 (a 2-kilometre trip from the Km. 27 marker), this one square kilometre lake hosts migratory waterfowl during the winter months. Birds are seen at their best and most plentiful from November through February. |  |
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| 8 kilometres north of Chaing Saen, this riverside area marks the spot where the borders of Thailand, Myammar and Laos converge. This is the cross-roads of the three-land borders. The Ruak River bordering Thailand and Myanmar runs into the Mekong River from Laos creating the well known Golden Triangle. In the old days drug traffickers secretly met to barter off opium with gold nuggets. Today it is a bustling tourist destination where visitors come to enjoy the rising sun emerging from the misty seas of fog. For an aerial glimpse of the Golden Triangle, you need to climb uphill to Doi Chiang Miang by the Mekong River where Wat Phra That Doi Pu Khao once stood. Only a pile of bricks remains to mark the site, but it provides a look-out point to catch "the big picture" of the Golden Triangle. |
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| Mekong River Trips | |
| Boats can be hired from Chaing Saen to travel upstream to the Golden Triangle, and downstream to Chiang Khong. The trip to the Golden Triangle takes some 30 minutes, the trip to Chiang Khong about 1 hour and 30 minutes depending on river currents and water levels. There are several piers to board a river cruise. A six-passenger trip can cost about 300-400 Baht A long-distance cruise. which certainly costs more, can take you as far as Chiang Kong, Luang Prabang, Sip Song Pan Na , and even Khunming (South of China). |
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| This riverside temple near the Sop Ruak Market, offers a spectacular view of the Golden Triangleís riverine and mountain areas. |  |
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| Mae Chan |
| Doi Mae Salong | |
| Located some 40 kilometres from Mae Chan, along Route 1089, a mountaintop settlement known as Santi Khiri is home to descendants of Chinese Nationalist soldiers who fled to, and settled in Thailand, in 1940. Mountainside plantations of coffee, and fruit orchards, provide scenic variety. The area is particularly picturesque in December and January when Thai cherry trees are in blossom. Accommodation, restuarants and opportunities for horse - riding and trekking number among major attractions. 60 kilometres beyond Doi Mae Salong via Ban Thoetthai is Doi Hua Mae Kham where a large Lisu hilltribe village is located. During December, the area is dotted with yellow wild sunflower called Bua Tong. | |
| It is very famous among Thai people for years. Tourists of various generations have flocked here. Some fancy the Sakura Flower grown along the 2 sides of the road up to the hill. Many local tourist love fine weather here. Chinese food is widely cooked and served. When you are here, you should not miss taste Chinese Tea, at a food shop or Mae Salong Resort. |  |
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| Hot Spring |
| Located 8 kilometres from Mae Chan, along Route 1089, this complex has hot mineral water and bath-house facilities. Accommodation is also available. |
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| Hilltribe Development & Welfare Centre |
| 15 kilometres along the route to Doi Mae Salong, the centre aids and administers local hilltribe settlements. Hilltribe handicrafts, including woven cloth and silverware, are on sale. |
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| Doi Saen Chai |
| 5 kilometres beyond the Welfare Centre, this Akha hilltribe village can be reached solely by 4-wheel drive vehicles. |