Tucked away between the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar in the central highlands; Chiang Rai is a city that is often overlooked. This is quite unfortunate for this city has a spectacular range of attractions that are totally worth the visit. The northernmost largest city in Thailand, Chiang Rai has quite an illustrious history spanning as far back as 1262 when it was founded as a capital city during the reign of the great King Mangrai, as a part of the Lao-Thai Lanna Kingdom. Today, the city has many wonders that make it the ideal destination for tourists. Let’s find out what they are,
Elephants!
Elephants are an icon of Thailand and when in Chiang Rai you can see these amazing beasts in all their glory. Elephant tourism is booming in this little village and luxury resorts like the Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort have combined together glamorous hospitality and ethical elephant tourism to create the ultimate holiday experience. This elephant camp in Thailand supports over 20 elephants as well as more than 50 persons consisting of the mahouts and their families. Guests who stay at the resort can interact with the gentle giants and take part in a number of leisure activities such as elephant trekking, picnics, and even elephant yoga!
Temples & Heritage Sites
With such an impressive history, it’s no surprise that it’s home to quite an amazing array of heritage sites such as the King Mengrai the Great Monument, Chiang Rai Clock Tower and the Wat Klang Wieng, to name a few. The best of these is the Wat Rong Khun. Built in the 20th Century, this white Buddhist temple looks like something out of a fairytale as well as a nightmare. Why? Because while there are stunning architecture and imagery to admire, the entrance to the temple consists of just one narrow bridge that’s built over a pool of rising and beseeching hands. These represent the suffering souls in hell who would clutch you and take you to hell with them should you fall! Just kidding. However, this bridge and the entire temple was the brainchild of the renowned visual artist and painter Chalermchai Kositpipat, who wished portray the Buddhist philosophy throughout the site. For example, this terrifying bridge that we talked about earlier is supposed to represent the crossing over from the cycle of death and rebirth into a state that’s free of suffering.
Shopping
Street food, souvenirs, colourful clothes and more await for you to shop and splurge!
Filled with wanderlust that seeks to explore distant shores and captivated by the colors and vibrancy of exotic cultures, Kanya Mae writes on the beautiful, exciting, and enchanting wonders of the world. She is a writer who not only has a passion for travel, but also has a background in fashion, art and media.
