Chiang Mai Attractions

Chiang Mai is...the land of beauty, warm hospitality and good manners ...the land of fascinating, mist-shrouded mountains and fertile valleys ...the land of religion with over 1,100 Buddhist temples...and the land of Thai arts and handicrafts. An old city of over 700 years, Chiang Mai has rooted its culture so deeply that it has its own dialect, its own architecture, its own costume, its own dances and its own cuisine. Though modernization has crept into this faraway region for decades, Chiang Mai still retains its natural charm and old culture. If you have a chance to visit this tourist paradise, you will understand why people call it "The Rose of the North".

Chiang Mai Night Safari

Thailand’s newest recreational sensation, the enormous Chiang Mai Night Safari is one of its kind in the world. It is today the pride of Chiang Mai, a city of fascinating customs and traditions, cultures, architectures and art.
Chiang Mai Night Safari is like no night zoo you have ever seen. As evening tourist attraction, it has more than 1,000 nocturnal animals and over 100 species living harmoniously and happily together.
In the total area (131 hectares) of Chiang Mai Night Safari, there are three separate animal exhibitions, the Jaguar trail zone, Savanna safari zone and the Predator zone. Each zone offers its own unique adventure experience.
A system of roads through part of a national reserve provides access to large semienclosures, accommodating animals from around the world. At night animals roam apparently at will, grazing up to roadside. A vehicle pulls wheeled carriages similar to open street cars, and mounted with flood lights, bringing visitors almost within arms length of 'residents'. Steel rollers in the road discourage animals from leaving their enclosures but allowing vehicle access.

Mountains
Northern Thailand is characterized largely by forested mountains, where working elephants are still used in forest management. This mountainous region is home to Thailand's many colorful hilltribe people, and trekking and river rafting enable adventurous exploration of this beautiful area. Chiang Mai is the principal norhtern city and is a good base from which to explore the surrounding countryside.

Doi Inthanon National Park

Located 36 miles from Chiang Mai is one of the most fertile troves of natural treasure in Chiang Mai, Doi Intanon National Park. The invigorating mountain air, the fresh, cool climate, makes it a rejuvenating break from the city.
Doi Intanon, 8514 feet above sea level - the highest peak in Thailand, is probably the most preserved in Thailand. It is extremely popular among bird watchers, with more than 383 species have been reported.

The city of Chiang Mai has a wealth of beautiful and historic Buddhist Wats (temples), 36 Wats within the old city walls and many more in the surrounding countryside. Near the summit of Doi Suthep, a 5300 feet peak named after the hermit Sudeva who lived on the mountain’s slopes for many years, is the 600 year old temple of Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. ...more

Chiang Mai's most photographed waterfall lies some 58 kilometres west of the city at the foot of Doi Inthanon Mountain, and provides a picturesque setting for picnics and relaxation.

Wat Phra Singh

Dating back from 1345 this is one of the focal points of Songkran festivities each April 3-15 when people bathe the revered Phra Buddha Sihing image. The temple includes the lovely Lai Kham chapel with its exquisite woodcarvings and northern-style murals and a magnificent scriptural repository with striking base relief.

Wat Suan Dok Suthep Road

This temple was built in a 14th century Lanna Thai monarch's pleasure gardens and is a favourite spot for photographers, particularly for striking sunsets. Several the white chedis contain ashes of Chiang Mai's former royal family. The 500-year-old bronze Buddha image in a secondary chapel is one of Thailand's largest metal images.

Wat Chiang Man Ratchaphakkinai Road

This is Chiang Mai's oldest temple and probably dates from 1296. The temple was the residence of King Mengrai, who founded Chiang Mai, and is noteworthy for a chedi

supported by rows of elephantine buttresses, and a small ancient Buddha image, Phra Kaeow Khaow.

Wat Chedi Luang Phrapokklao Road

This temple is the site of an enormous pagoda, originally 280 feet high, and which was partially destroyed by an earthquake in 1545. At one time, Wat Chedi Luang housed the revered Emerald Buddha image now enshrined in Bangkok's Wat Phra Kaeo. A magnificent Naga staircase adorns the chapel's front porch.

Wat Chet Yot

Super Highway, north of the Huai Kaew-Nimmanhemin Roads intersection This temple dates from 1458. The seven-spired square chedi was inspired by designs at Bodhagaya, the site of the Buddha's Enlightenment in north India over 2,500 years ago, and was built by Lanna Thai architects after visiting the holy site.

Wat U-Mong Suthep Road

This delightful meditation temple is completely different from Chiang Mai's other major temples and enjoys a bu-colic forest setting. The ancient chedi is of particular interest.

Wat Ku Tao near Chiang Mai Stadium

This temple is noteworthy for an unusual bulbous pagoda. The structure is decorated with colourful porcelain chips and is believed to represent five Buddhist monks' alms bowls which symbolise five Lord Buddhas.

The Queen Sirikit Botanical Gardens

The Queen Sirikit Botanical Gardens, were opened in 1992. They cover an area of some 3500 rai (about 2000 acres) and include a wide variety of vegetation containing over 10,000 trees as well as ferns, palms, herbs and flowers - many of which are extremely rare. Even if you are not a botanist it is well worth visiting these beautiful gardens.