Chiang Mai Attractions - Top Sightseeing and things to see

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 :

The 1,005 - square - kilometre park covers Thailand's highest mountain (2,565 metres). The lovely Wachirathan, Siriphum and Mae Pan waterfalls share the mountain with Meo and Karen hilltribe settlements. Forest above 1,800 metres is covered with lichens and wild orchids.


Mae Klang Waterfall

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.

Chiang Mai National Museum Beside Wat Chet Yot
The museum houses a collection of Lanna Thai works of art, ancient Buddha images, and war weapons. The museum opens daily, except Mondays, Tuesdays and official holidays, from 9.00 AM until noon, and 1.00 until 4.00 PM.

National Parks :

Increasing numbers of visitors now come to Chiang Mai in search of the natural environment preserved a famous national parks. Famous national park in Chiang Mai is Doi Inthanon,the highest mountain in Thailand. In most cases, you will find easy access and bungalow accommodation for overnight stays.


Mae Sa Valley :The entrance to the Mae Sa Valley is only thirteen kms north of Chiang Mai City. This pristine area of waterfalls, rushing streams and largely undamaged northern forest is one of Chiang Mai's best-kept secrets. The Mae Sa Valley forms partof a loop road encircling the national park of Doi Suthep and Doi Pui. There are several villages of different hill tribe people, camps where elephants can be seen at work and ridden, orchid, snake and butterfly farms and spectacular waterfalls of which the most popular is the Mae Sa Waterfall.

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.


Night Bazaar There is no other market in Chiang Mai like Kad Luang, or the Royal Market as it is fondly called by the locals. This ultimate market of all markets sits in the heart of Chiang Mai on the Ping River, it's vast buildings house hundreds of shops and stalls selling almost anything you could wish to buy in Chiang Mai.