GuideBook ChiangMai Thailand

8/9/2019 GuideBook ChiangMai Thailand

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Welcome to Chiang Mai

Population 1,673,813

Currency Exchange 1 US$ =32.5 Baht (On 1 Jun'08)

Population 1,673,813

Currency Exchange 1 US$ =32.5 Baht (On 1 Jun'08)

Chiang Mai Province has much the same climate as adjacent province in the north. Most visitors willfind the weather is most enjoyable from November to mid-February, when temperatures are mild andrain is scarce. During the cool season temperatures can warrant a jacket or pullover at night,particularly at higher elevations.

Situated 700 km from the capital, Bangkok, Chiang Mai sits in the northern mountainous regionwhere the climate is cooler than the southern regions, with the exception of the months of March,April and May.

Cool Season : (late October to end of February). Average temperature 21o

C and muchcooler at night. The coldest months are December and January.

Hot Season : (early March to end of May). Average temperature 29.9o

C The hottest month is April.

Rainy Season : (early June to end of October). Average temperature 25.5o

C The wettest month isSeptember.

The old city of Chiang Mai is a net square bounded by moats and partial walls. Thanon Moon Mueang,along the eastern moat, is the centre for cheap accommodation and eateries. Thanon Tha Phae runseast from the middle of this side and crosses Mae Nam Ping, changing into Th Charoen Mueang. The

trendy Th Nimmanhaemin area is west of the old city.

Emergency CallsPolice & Emergency : 191

Tourist Police station : 1155, 053 278 559City Police : 053 276 040Tourist Police : 1155International Airport : 053 270224, 053 270 222-3Chiangmai Arcade Bus Station : 053 242 664Tourism Authority of Thailand : 053 248 604 , 053 248 607Lost or stolen credit cards : American Express : 02 273 0022-44

Master Card : 02 299 1990-2Visa : 02 299 1990-2

Internet Resourceshttp://www.tsr-chiangmaimap.com

http://www.chiangmai.go.thhttp:// www.tatchiangmai.orghttp://www.chiangmaiguide.comhttp:// www.chiangmai-online.com

Travel Agentshttp://www.travelhubchiangmai.comhttp://www.thaiaccesstours.com

Festivals Day Tripping Eating Nightlife Sleeping Getting Around


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Day Tripping

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

This temple is Chiang Mai's most important and visible landmark, and overlooks the city from its forested mountain backdrop. It is 15km from town, 3,520 feet above sea level, and dates from 1383. The temple is approached on foot by climbing a steep staircase

comprising 290 steps. The less energetic may ascend by funicular rail cars. The temple's golden pagoda contains holy Buddha relics,

and attracts Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world throughout the year.

Yi Peng Lantern Festivalis northern Thailand's take on Loi Krathong celebrations. A unique traditional practice of Chiang Maiinhabitants, the Yi Peng Lantern Festival features various shows and competitions. Yi Peng refers to full moon night of the 12th lunar

month. The Yi Peng Lantern Festival, commonly known as Festival of Lights, is annually organized by the Chiang Mai Municipality.

The other popular festivals and events in Chiang Mai are Baan Tawai Woodcarving Fair, Makha Bucha Festival, Yi Peng Lantern Festival,

etc. All these festivals witness voluntary participation from most of the tourists, who are always keen to learn more about the culture of

Chiang Mai.

Wat Phra singhChiang Mai's most visited Buddhist temple, Wat Phra Singh owes

its fame to the fact that it houses the city's most revered Buddha

image, Phra Singh (Lion Buddha). Started by King Pa Yo in 1345,

the wihaan (large hall) that houses the Phra Singh image was

completed between 1385 and 1400. Architecturally it's a perfect

example of the classic northern Thai or Lanna style followed

during this period from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang. The Phra

Singh Buddha supposedly comes from Sri Lanka, but it is not

particularly Sinhalese in style.

Wat Phra Singh's main chedi displays classic Lanna style with its

octagonal base. Wihan Lai Kham, a small chapel next to the

chedi, features sumptuous laai kham (gold pattern) stenciling on

its interior back wall. Paintings on the north wall, executed by an

ethnic Chinese thought to have trained in Bangkok, display a

much higher level of skill. A small figure above one of the

windows is thought to be a self-portrait of the artist.

Flower Festival

Yi Peng Lantern Festival Bo Sang Umbralla Festival

Wat Phra Singh

Festivals

Flower Festival The Flower Festival is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in Chiang Mai. Falling in the first weekend ofFebruary, this fest features a parade on Saturday morning, wherein floats are beautifully decorated with flowers. Each float represents a

theme and has a prize to compete for. Public gardens and parks are also beautifully decorated and put for public display.

Loi Krathong People float away banana-leaf boats bearing a lighted candle incense flower and a small coin to honour the water

spirits and wash away the previous year's misfortunes.

The Bo Sang Umbrella Festival is organized by the Bo Sang Umbrella Village, one of the topmost sites for sightseeing inChiang Mai. During this festival, local artistes display and sell handmade umbrellas. These umbrellas are colorful and come in various

shapes and sizes. This is the most unique event in Chiang Mai.


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Wat Chedi LuangThis temple complex encloses a very large and venerable Lanna-

style chedi dating from 1441. Now in partial ruins, stories say it

was damaged by either a 16th-century earthquake or the cannon

fire of King Taksin in 1775 during the recapture of Chiang Mai

from the Burmese.

A restoration of the great chedi of the wat financed by Unesco

and the Japanese government, stopped short of creating a new

spire, since no-one knows for sure how the original

superstructure looked. New Buddha images have been placed in

three of the four directional nuches.

Wat Chiang ManA stone slab inscription, engraved in 1581 and erected at Wat

Chiang Man, bears the earliest known reference to the city's

1,296 founding. It is thus thought to be the oldest wat in the city,

and founded by Phaya Mengrai. The wat features typical northern

Thai temple architecture.

Two important Buddha images are kept in a glass cabinet inside the smaller sanctuary, to the right of the sim. The Phra Sila, a

marble bas-relief Buddha that stands 20cm to 30cm high, is

supposed to have come from Sri Lank or India 2,500 years ago,

but since no Buddha images were produced anywhere before

around 2,000 years ago, it must have arrived later.

Wat Suan DokPhaya Keu Na, the sixth Lanna king, built this temple in a forest

grove in 1373 as a place where the visiting Phra Sumana Thera,

who was a teaching monk from Sukhothai, could spend in

retreat. The large, open wihaan was refuilt in 1932. The bot

contains a 500-year-old bronze Buddha image and vivid jataka

(Buddha's pastlife stories) murals. Amulets and Buddhist

literature printed in English and Thai can be purchased

inexpensively in the wihaan.

On the grounds stands a group of striking whiterwashed Lannachedi, framed by Doi Suthep when viewed from the east. The

large central chedi contains a Buddha relic that, according to

legend, miraculously duplicated itself in the 14th century. The

duplicate relic was mounted on the back of a white elephant

(commemorated by Chiang Mai's Pratu Chang Pheuak), which

was allowed to wander until it 'chose' a site on which a wat could

be built to enshrine it. The elephant stopped and died at a spot

on Doi Suthep, 13km west of Chiang Mai, where Chiang Mai

resdents built Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.

Chiang Mai National Museum

Established in 1954 with a lone curator over-seeing a smallcollection of Lanna Buddhas and potsherd (fragments of

pottery), has grown to having a full-time staff of 20 cataloguing

and caring for up to a million artifacts. These items are shared

among four important national museums in Chiang Mai,

Lamphun, Chiang Saen and Nan, all under the auspices of the

Chiang Mai National Museum. The museum displays a very good

selection of Buddha images in all styles, including a huge bronze

Buddha down-stairs. Pottery is also displayed downstairs, while

upstairs there are household and agricultural tools, along with

historic weaponry.

Place : 11 Superhighway Rd.

Price : 30 THB.

Tel : 053 221 308

Opening times : 9:00 - 16:00 (Wed to Sun, Closed on : Mon, Tue and

National Holidays)

http://www.thailandmuseum.com

Wat Chedi Luang

Wat Jet Yod

Wat Suan Dok

Chiang Mai National Museum

Wat Jet YodOut of town on the northern highway loop near the National

Museum, Wat Jet Yod was built in the mid-15th century to host

the eighth World Buddhist Council in 1477. Based on the design

of the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya, Indaia, the proportions

for the Chiang Mai version are quite different from the Indian

original; it was probably modeled from a small votive tabletdepicting the Mahabodhi in distorted perspective. The jet yawt

(seven spires) represent the seven weeks Buddha was supposed

to have spent in Bodhgaya after his enlightenment.

It's a pleasant, relaxing temple to visit, but a bit too far from the

city centre to reach on foot; by bicycle it's easy, or you can take a

red sawngthaew.


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Chiangmai Night SafariChiang Mai Night Safari is constructed to be a world class nature

theme park consisted of many projects to be done. Today, the

first project including wildlife area, musical fountain and water

screen, has already been completed. To accomplish the whole

objectives, other projects will be gradually established.

Place : located at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park

Price : Adult 500 THB. , Child 300 THB.

Tel : 053 999 050

Open : Nighttime 7.45 pm. - 10.15 pm.

Doi Ang KhangThis royal agricultural station situated among beautiful

mountainous scenery, provincial capital, 163 km north of Chiang

Mai, is a demonstration site for planting and researching

flowering plants, temperate fruit trees, vegetable and other crops

under the patronage of his Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Chiang Mai ZooInvites you to visit panda & koala. At the foot of Doi Suthep, the

modern Chiang Mai Zoo is set in a lush location, with waterfalls,

forets and lakes on the grounds. Open-sided buses take you

around the site, which houses a walk-through aviary with over

5,000 birds, an aquarium, a children's zoo and a penguin house.

It's also home to large African and Asian mammals, includingtigers and giraffes.

Tel : 053 358 116

Price : Adults : 50 THB., Children : 10 THB.

Open daily : 08.30 - 17.30

http://www.chiangmaizoo.com

Chiang Dao CavesSacred Buddha images occupy the caves of Wat Tham Chiang

Dao at KM.72 on Highway 107. Caves are illuminated by electric

lights. Deepest recesses can be explored with local guides.

Mae Ya WaterfallThis is located 12 km from Chom Thong market and is best

visited by local mini-bus.

Fang Hot SpringsLocated at Ban Pin, also 163 km north of Chiang Mai provincial

capital, 50 hot springs occupy a 10-acre forest setting. Three of

the springs boil continuously with a strong smell of sulphur.

Water temperatures at the springs range from 90 to 100

degrees Celsius.

San Pa ThongFurther south down Route 108, this overgrown village is home toa huge and lively weekly water buffalo and cattle market

(5.30am - 10am Sat). In addition to livestock, the market

purveys used motorcycles and bicycles at prices that beat

Chiang Mai's. If you want breakfast, there are also plenty of food

vendors.

Tribal MuseumOverlooking a lake in Suan Ratchamangkhala on the northern

outskirts of the city, this octagonal museum houses a collection

of handicrafts, costumes, jewellery, ornaments, household

utensils, agricultural tools, musical instruments and ceremonial

paraphernalia. There are also informative displays showing the

cultural features and background of each of the major hill tribes

in Thailand; an exhibition on activities carried out by the Thai

royal family on behalf of the hill tribes; and various bits of

research and development sponsored by governmental and non-

governmental agencies.

Place : Ratchamangkla Park, Chang Puak Rd.

Price : 30 THB.

Tel : 053 211 933

Opening times : 9:00 - 16:00 (Mon to Fri, closed on

public holidays)

http://www.thailandmuseum.com

Chiangmai Night Safari

Mae Ya Waterfall

Chiang Mai Zoo

Doi Ang Khang


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Nam Tok Mae KlangNam Tok Mae Klang near the foot of the mountain is good for all

stops on the Doi Inthanon circuit; be sure to keep your receipt.

Nam Tok Mae Klang is the largest and the easiest to get to; you

must stop here to get a bus to the top of Doi Inthanon. It can be

climbed nearly to the top, as there is a footbridge leading to rock

formations over which the water cascades.

Price : Adult/child - 400/200 THB.

Time : Sunset (8.00 am.)

Night BazaarChiang Mai is located in the heart of the city. This bazaar is also

lovingly called Kad Luang, which means royal market. The price

of local handicrafts is cheap here. Night Bazaar, Chiang Mai is

one of the major tourist attractions of the region. If you arefeeling hungry you can also visit one of the many restaurants

clustered around the area.

Doi Inthanon National ParkThailand's highest peak, the 2,565m Doi Inthanon has three

impressive waterfalls cascading down its slopes. Starting from

the bottom these are Nam Tok Mae Klang, Nam Tok Wachiratan

and Nam Tok Siriphum. Admission prices allow entry to all three

sights. The first two have picnic areas and food vendors. Nam

Tok Wachiratan is also very pleasant, and less crowded.

The views from Doi Inthanon are best in the cool dry season

from November to February. You can expect the air to be quite

chilly towards the top, so take a jacket or sweater. For most of the year a mist, formed by the condensation of warm humid air

below, hangs around the highest peak. Along the 47 km road to

the top are terraced rice fields, tremendous valleys and a few

small hill-tribe villages. The mountain sloper is home to around

4,000 Hmong and Karen tribespeople.

Most of the park's bird species are found between 1,500m and

2,000m; the best bird-watching season is from February to April.

Meo Tribal VillageThe inhabitants of Meo Tribal Village, Chiang Mai are Hmong

(Meo). These people are intelligent, independent and verypatient. They usually wear blue, black and red tribal costumes.

They also like wearing silver ornaments, especially during

ceremonies.

The Hmong practices a strict male-female division of labor. One

custom that especially illustrates this is that newborn boy is

given a gift of metal from which he will have to forge a weapon

when he grows, whereas newborn girls receive no special gift.

Maesa Elephant CampAn elephant camp in the hills about a half hour's drive north of

the city center. It has an elephant show, which includes

elephants playing football and painting.

Tel : 053 206 247, 053 206 248

Central Airport PlazaChiang Mai is situated on Highway 1141. You can visit the mall

between 11 am to 10 pm on weekdays. On weekends the

Central Airport Plaza, Chiang Mai is open for a longer time

period. The mall opens at 9:30 in the morning on Saturdays and

Sundays.

Baan Tawai Wood Carving VillageChiang Mai is famous for hosting the famous Baan Tawai Wood

Carving Fair. Held at the end of January, the fair exhibits local

handicrafts wood craving and folk performances. There is

surrounded by hardwood forests that led to the creation of thisvillage. Most of the products made at this village are based on

timber, especially teak.

Meo Tribal Village

Phra Mahathat Chedi Nophamethanidol, Doi Inthanon National Park


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Eating

Kuaytiaw Kai Tun Coke A small food stall directly opposite the

main entrance to the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel prepares a simpler

version of kuaytiaw kai tun yaa jiin but substitutes Coca-Cola for

the Chinese herbs. Here the chicken is marinated in cola and

spices overnight, then steamed and served with rice noodles. It's

actually quite good and has become famous for people as far

away as Bangkok.

Khao Soi Lam Duan This place serves large bowls of beef, pork

or chicken khao soi. Also on the menu are kao-lao (soup without

noodles), muu sa-te (grilled spiced pork on bamboo skewers)

and khanom rang pheung (literally beehive pastry a coconut-

flavoured waffle). (dishes 30 - 55 THB.)

Place : 352/22 on Fah Ham Rd.

Tel : 053 243 519

Khum Khantoke Various packages for wedding parties of any size.

Place : Located in Chiangmai Business ParkTel : 053 304 121-3

Pum Pui Italian restaurant This casual place features a low-keygarden setting and moderate prices. The menu includes olive

pate and other antipasti, along with salads, lots of vegetarian

options, ice cream, breakfast, Italian wines and espressos.

Place : 24 Soi 2 Moon Mueang Rd.

Tel : 053 278 209

Galae restaurant Doi Suthep foothill location at the edge of a

sparkling reservoir serving Thai & Northern Thai food and grilled

specialties in delightful outdoors.

Place : 65 Suthep Rd.

Tel : 053 278 655

Heuan Phen is a very stylish and trendy restaurant that mostly

caters northern Thai food.

Place : 112 Ratchamankha Rd.

Tel : 053 277 103

Good View Next door to Riverside, Good View changes bands

more frequently than Riverside and is quite popular. It also has a

restaurant.

Place : 13 Charoenrat Rd.

Tel : 053 241 866

Khao Soi Lam Duan Khantoke

Warm-UpMonkey Club

Nightlife

Warm-Up Warm-Up occasionally hosts nationally known Thaibands. On other nights bands play covers and Thai pop. DJs also

play their decks.

Place : 40 Nimmarnhemin Rd. T.Suthep A.Mueang

Tel : 053 400 676, 053 400 677

Monkey Club A good trendy Thai restaurant/bar. Popular withyoung Thai clientele, enjoy live pop, jazz and acoustic music.

Place : Nimminheimin Rd. Soi 9

Tel : 053 226 997-8

Bossy 2002 One of the most popular clubs in Chiang Mai. Thai

crowd, with live music and DJ

Place : Inside Chiang Mai Land Village

Brasserie The best music in Chiang Mai, full stop. Extremely

talented Thai guitarist rocks the house nightly with versions ofHendrix, Dylan, Clapton and other classics. Has a compact,

smoke-filled club feel to the place and you'll go home swearing

you just watched Jimi play and begging for more. Opening bands

start early and Took takes the stage around 10.30pm.

Place : 37 Charoenrat Rd.

Tel : 053 241 665


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Sleeping

Budget

Apple Guest House - 219 Moo 3 Fang-ThaTon Rd.

Tel : 053 459 315 (r 150 - 200 THB.)

Backpacker House Simple lodging near the airport

and university

Tel : 053 811 700, 081 993 9911 (r 560 - 720 THB.)

Green Tulip Guest House - 18 Samlan Rd. (near Wat Phrasing)

Tel : 053 278 367 (r 250-650 THB.)

Hollanda Montri Guesthouse - 365 Charoenrat Rd.

(10 minutes from the center of town by taxi)

Tel : 053 242 450 (r 500 THB.)

Julie Guesthouse - 7/1 Prapokklao Rd. Soi 5

(5 minutes from Tha Phae Gate)

Tel : 053 274 355 (r 100 - 300 THB.)

Rendezvous Guesthouse & Cafe - 3/1 Ratchadamnoen Rd. Soi 5

Tel : 053 213 763, 053 419 009 (r 350 - 500 THB.)

GuideBook 7

Midrange & Top End

Ayatana Hamlet and Spa - 99/9 Moo 14 Suthep Rd.

Mueang District

Tel : 053 811 388, 053 811 588

http://www.ayatana-resort.com (r 3,500 - 13,000 THB.)

Baanklangdoi - 190 Hangdong-Samaeng Rd.

Banpong Hangdong

Tel : 053 365-306-7 , 365-350-1

http://www.baanklangdoi.com (r 2,360 - 29,425 THB.)

Banntazala - 55/5 Moo 1 Chiang Mai-Sankampaeng Rd.T. Tasala Mueang

Tel. 053 850 111

http://www.banntazala.com (r 7,200 - 22,000 THB.)

Kaomailanna - 1 Moo 6 Chiang Mai-Hod Rd.,

Ban Klang Sun Pa Tong

Tel : 053 834 470-5

http://www.kaomailanna.com (r 2,670 - 3,000 THB.)

Krisadadoi - 90 Moo 4 Hangdong-Saming Rd.

Banpong Hangdong

Tel : 053 365 231-4

http://www.krisdadoi.com (r 2,500 - 10,000 THB.)

Proud Phu Fah - 95/7 Moo 1 Mae Rim Samoeng Rd. PongyangTel : 053 879 389, 053 873 286

http://www.proudphufah.com (r 4,500 - 6,000 THB.)

Manathai Village - 39/9 Soi 3 Tapae Rd. Changklan Mueang

Tel : 053 281 666-9

http://www.manathai.com (r 7,000 - 16,000 THB.)

Getting AroundBuses and Songthaew Most common by far are the red

songthaews run frequently to towns and villages around

Chiangmai Province from Chiangmai's Chang Pheuak bus

terminal. Cars, 4WD vehicles, pick-up trucks and motorcycles

are easily rented in Chiangmai for excursions around the

province.

Tuk-tuk or Samlor Tuk-Tuk serve as Chiangmai's taxis, going

point to point for 30 baht.

Motorcycle Renting a small bike starts at around 200 THB./day

with insurance; larger machines can climb to 800 THB./day for aV-twin chopper or large sport-bike.

Manathai Village - 39/9 Soi 3 Tapae Rd. Changklan Mueang

Tel : 053 281 666-9

http://www.manathai.com (r 7,000 - 16,000 THB.)

Puripunn - 104/1 Charoen Mueang Soi 2,

Charoen Mueang Rd. Mueang

Tel : 053 302 898

http://www.puripunn.com (r 7,200 - 22,000 THB.)

Horizon Village - 200 Moo 7 Chiangmai-Doi Saket Rd. Doi Saket

Tel : 053 868 891-3

http://www.horizonvillage.net (r 3,600 - 5,740 THB.)

Horzon VillageKrisadadoi Banntazala

Baanklangdoi Kaomailanna

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