Chiang Mai is the biggest metropolis in northern Thailand. Well-known for its temples and outdated walled centre, the Thirteenth-century river port metropolis attracts tens of millions of tourists yearly. From its moats to mountains, Buddhas to child elephants, listed below are among the most fascinating information about Chiang Mai which may simply shock you.
7 Fascinating Info about Chiang Mai
1. Chiang Mai is called the ‘Capital of North Thailand’
With a inhabitants of 1,197,931 (as of 2022) Chiang Mai is the biggest metropolis in northern Thailand and the capital of Chiang Mai Province. It’s the fourth-largest metropolis in the entire of the nation after Bangkok, Chon Buri and Samut Prakan.
2. Chiang Mai is a river port metropolis
Chiang Mai is positioned 700km (435 miles) north of the Thai capital Bangkok. It’s nestled among the many highest mountains within the nation. Town is located alongside the Ping River, which is a serious tributary of the Chao Phraya River. As a consequence of its strategic location alongside the river and near main buying and selling routes, Chiang Mai has traditionally been an vital metropolis.
3. Chiang Mai is a Thirteenth-century historic metropolis of the Lanna Kingdom
Chiang Mai, additionally written as Chiengmai or Chiangmai, means “new metropolis” within the Thai language. Mangrai, a Northern Thai King established the brand new metropolis ‘Chaing Mai’ in 1296. He selected the title as the town succeeded Chiang Rai as the brand new capital of the Lanna Kingdom.
4. Chiang Mai has extra Buddhist temples than another Thai metropolis
Within the metropolis’s Muang district, you’ll discover 117 Buddhist temples (“wat” in Thai), and 300 wats all through the area. That’s extra Buddhist temples than another metropolis in Thailand. The oldest temple in Chiang Mai is the Wat Chiang Man which King Mengrai constructed in 1296. Within the Chiang Mai province, you’ll discover Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. This is likely one of the most sacred pilgrimage spots in Thailand. This temple is on the Doi Suthep mountain at an elevation of 1,073 meters. The temple is legendary for its enormous Buddha.
5. Chiang Mai is a walled metropolis
With over 700 years of historical past, there are many websites of historic significance in Chiang Mai. Inside the Previous Metropolis space, you may see vestiges of partitions, ramparts, gates and moats from its previous because the cultural and non secular centre of the Lanna Kingdom. Inside the outdated metropolis partitions are 40 historic temples. Although the unique metropolis partitions date to the Thirteenth-century, they had been extensively rebuilt within the early Nineteenth-century. Some of the-visited elements of the outdated metropolis is the Tha Phae Gate on the east aspect of the town partitions. This gate dates again to the Sixteenth-century and was the primary gate via which monks, merchants and diplomates entered the town.
6. Chiang Mai is dwelling to the best mountain in Thailand
Doi Inthanon Nationwide Park in Chiang Mai is dwelling to Doi Inthanon. That is the best mountain in Thailand and rises 2,565 meters above sea stage. Doi Inthanon Nationwide Park has a lot of beautiful landscapes together with rainforests, pine forests and combined forests. There are additionally a lot of waterfalls and nature trails to discover. It’s also a fantastic place to witness the attractive pure phenomenon of Mae Kha Ning or the winter frost. Mae Kha Ning is when ice crystals cling to flowers, grass, branches and bushes and switch every part white.
7. There’s an elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai
In 1996, animal lover Sangduen “Lek” Chailert opened up the 250-acre Elephant Nature Park as a sanctuary for distressed Asian elephants. Positioned 37 miles from the town of Chiang Mai, some 54 rescued elephants name the Park dwelling. The herd consists of disabled, orphaned and blind elephants, lots of which had been rescued from logging, avenue begging, and tourism industries. Different recused animals additionally reside on the sanctuary, for example, buffalos, canines, cats, horses, goats and birds. You possibly can go to the Elephant Nature Park on a day journey or as a part of a volunteer programme.
