|
Chiang Rai is located in the northern-most region of Thailand at a distance of 785 km north of Bangkok. This small, peaceful town has a mountainous terrain and is largely covered by tropical rain forests.
In 1262, Chiang Rai was founded by Phaya Mengrai as part of the Lanna kingdom. In 1786, it became a Siamese territory and in 1910, it became a province. Wealthy Thais moved to this place in the 1980s and major developments took place after that. Presently, talks are on regarding the possibility of roads which would connect Myanmar, Laos, southern China and Chiang Rai.
The ‘Golden Triangle’ in Chiang Rai is where the borders of Myanmar and Laos touch the Thailand border. The Golden Triangle is one of the major attractions of Chiang Rai with the town of Siang Hai considered as the ‘gateway to the Golden Triangle.’ Many ancient ruins like Thailand’s sole handcrafted White Temple - the Wat Rong Khun besides popular museums and two Buddhist temples can be seen here.
A visit to the hill tribes is an added attraction and tourists can also try rafting tours on the river of Kok and boat rides on Mekong. Besides elephant rides, popular caves like the Fish Cave can be explored. Chiang Rai is also known for its natural rock formations.
The Doi Tung is a holy Buddhist shrine located on a hilltop. Built in 911 AD, it is believed that the twin pagodas of this shrine contain the remains of Lord Buddha’s left collar bones.
The tribal villages of Lahu and Akha are known for their silver jewellery and hand-woven textiles. One can also visit the 6000 feet high Doi Mae Salong where the ethnic Chinese descendants of the KMT Nationalist Army have settled down. This settlement houses Buddhist temples, shops, churches, schools and restaurants. The settlers produce the oolong black tea.
Ethnic communities like the Thai hill tribes besides the Shans, Chinese, Lawa and Mon make up the population of Chiang Rai. These communities co-exist peacefully and visitors can stay here in home stays to experience the culture, way of life and local cuisine of Northern Thailand.
|
