One of my favourite destinations to go to when I visit Thailand is to Chiang Mai in the north, the second largest city in Thailand and also the former capital of the Lanna Kingdom and is currently also the provincial capital. It is very popular with backpackers and people looking stay in luxury alike. There are over 33,000 rooms in Chiang Mai in various hotels, resorts and guesthouses and during peak times places can fill up quickly. Chiang Mai is also a good place to make a base so you can explore the rest of the surrounding country and really get to know the northern part of Thailand.
Image by shapour bahrami via flickr
The Moat
Within the walls of the old city, which date back over 700 years, there is a moat surrounding the old part of the town and in here you will find all manner of hotels, guest houses, bars and restaurants. Inside the moat in the northern part of town you will find a lot of the budget guest houses and hotels. There is also some really great food in this area of town which is cheaply priced and excellent quality, making it a bargain. The further south you go and closer to the Night Bazaar you get, the more expensive things seem to become. The entire of the moat is also very popular during the festivals which take place here. Both Songkran and also Loi Krathong see the locals out gathering. Songkran which is also the Thai New Year holiday, sees people playing with water and splashing anything in sight. It can be great fun in the hot summer month of April. Loi Krathong takes place during November and is a lot calmer affair then the sometimes manic New year celebrations. It can be a great sight with all the krathongs made from flowers and plants floating with a candle and offering in the water. You also see lots of Chinese Lanterns being set off as well, so much so that during this time of year the airport changes the normal flight route for aircraft to accommodate all of the lanterns.
Where is the Wat
There an abundance of Wats (Temples) all over Chiang Mai, over 300 in and around the city itself. This means there are certainly plenty of places to choose from if you wished to see one of these temples closer up. You do need to dress appropriately if you are entering a Wat which means a woman may have to wear a skirt or trousers which is down to the ankles and no spaghetti tops. Long pants and T-Shirt is ok for men to wear and women should refrain from touching the monks at all as this is forbidden. In Wats all over Thailand you will be able to have a chat with one of the monks there, as there is usually someone who can speak some sort of English. They may be able to give you some more information on the history of the place and maybe even a short tour. Most of the temples you are allowed to interact with all of the bells, gongs and drums as well as light incense and say a prayer. One of my favourite temples is Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. This is located on top of the mountain, called Doi Suthep, and overlooks the city below it. You can either walk up the 309 steps to reach the Pagoda at the top or you can also take the tram. The site of the temple has been a religious site for hundreds of years and is highly revered by the local population. It is also a good day out walking!
Animals
If like me you like animals, then there is a lot on offer in and around Chiang Mai. The Elephant Nature Park is a charitable organization which looks after sick and injured as well as orphaned elephants. For about £50.00 you get picked up and spend a day with a herd of elephants. You get to feed them, give them a bath, learn about the elephants and also watch them play. It is a wonderful day out for everyone. Alternatively you could go to the Chiang Mai Zoo which is very popular and has won lots of awards. It is actually based on the side of a mountain, so you are best to either drive your own transport around and get out at the exhibits or use the bus system in place which is chargeable. There is also the Tiger Kingdom which is a sanctuary and breeding centre for the native Tiger species. Here you will find Tigers from new born cubs up to the age of two years and you also get to interact with them. They have been hand reared since birth so are used to human contact, although you are always strictly supervised. The Night Safari is also a popular attraction where you get taken around the safari park at night, observing the mostly nocturnal animals. Along the way there are also stops where you can feed goats and deer from your seat on the bus and food is sold before you sit down.
Get Trekking
If you are feeling really adventurous, you could do a trek in the jungle and see some of the local tribes and animals on your travels. Usually these will also take in either rafting or elephants as well and you can choose an itinerary to suit your time frame and also budget. If you are looking at doing some trekking when you get here, then you may wish to choose the time of year appropriately with the different seasons, from May to October s considered the rainy season so going trekking in monsoon rains can make for hard going and extremely uncomfortable as well as dangerous. Make sure that you go with a licensed guide and that your insurance fully covers you as well before setting out. If in doubt ask the tour company if they offer any insurance, a lot of the larger companies may offer an insurance package to cover you for a small amount. Chiang Mai really is the sort of place that you need to take your time in exploring as there is so much on offer and sometimes slightly hidden away. There are plenty of gems in the rough here and it is great to discover new things and places as well as history and people, every time I visit this wonderful city.
This article was written by Ted Hunter. Ted is a seasoned traveller having spent a lot of time in Chiang Mai. Ted enjoys sharing his experiences and opinions in the blogs and articles that he writes. He loves writing travel reviews including Travel Republic review.