History

King Mengrai founded the city of Chiang Mai (meaning "new city") in 1296, and it succeeded Chiang Rai as capital of the Lanna kingdom. To protect it against raids from Burma, the city was surrounded by a moat and a defensive wall. With the decline in power of the Lannathai kingdom, the city lost importance and often was occupied by either the Burmese or Thais from Ayutthaya. As a result of the Burmese wars that ended with the fall of Ayutthaya in April 1767, Chiang Mai was so depopulated that its remaining inhabitants abandoned the city from 1776 to 1791. During that time, Lampang functioned as the capital of what remained of Lannathai.

Chiang Mai formally became part of Siam in 1774, when the Thai King Taksin captured it from the Burmese. Chiang Mai rose in both cultural, trading and economic terms to adopt its current status as the unofficial capital of the north of Thailand, second only in national importance to Bangkok.

The people generally speak Kham Muang (also known as Northern Thai or Lanna) amongst themselves, but the Central Thai of Bangkok is used in education and is understood by most. English is generally used in hotel and travel related businesses and many locals speak English.[2] The old Kham Muang alphabet is now only studied by scholars and Northern Thai is commonly written using the standard Thai alphabet.

The modern municipal entity dates back to a sanitary district (sukhaphiban) created in 1915. It was upgraded to a municipality (thesaban) on March 29 1935, as published in the Royal Gazette, Book No. 52 section 80. At first covering an area of 17.5 km2 (7 sq mi), it was enlarged to cover 40.216 km2 (16 sq mi) on April 5,1983.

HIS MAJESTY THE KING AND HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN’S FIRST VISIT IN THE NORTH

His majesty the King and Her majesty the Queen first visited their people in the northern region of Thailand between February 27th and March 13th in 1958.

They both took the train from Jitrada station to Phisanulok, Sukhothai, Tak, Lampang, Lamphun, and eventually ending up in Chiang Rai province (Boonserm Satrabhaya, 1989). In “A pleasure trip to the North” by Prachum Pancharoen, there is a collection of pictures of when they first visited with a detailed

explanation. Furthermore, the “A visit to Lan Na 2” by Boonserm Satrabhaya (1989) gives a detailed account and photos of when they both came to Chiang Mai. Both books are full of great value and give information about His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen in regard to their pleasurable trip to the North.

for more information:
Northern thai information center chiang Mai University library 239 Huay kaew Rd., t. Suthep, A. Muang chiang Mai, thailand 50200 tel: 66 5394 4514, 66 5394 4517 e-mail: ntic@lib.cmu.ac.th http://library.cmu.ac.th/ntic

Office Hours: during the term: Mon-fri 08.00am – 09.00pm Sat-Sun 10.00am – 06.00pm during the term break: Mon-fri 08.30am – 04.30pm Sat-Sun closed Public Holidays: closed

Special thanks for information: Northern thai information center, chiang Mai University library

Photo Resource: “A pleasure trip to the North” by Prachum Pancharoen, 1958.

Special Thank : http://www.passport2002.com for information and photos

The Past

Chiang Mai literally means new city and has retained the name despite having celebrated its 700th anniversary in 1996. King Meng Rai founded the city as the capital of the Lanna (A Million Rice Fields) Kingdom on Thursday, 12th April 1296 during the same period of time as the establishment of the Sukhothai Kingdom. King Meng Rai the Great conferred with his friends, King Ramkhamhaeng of Sukhothai and King Ngam Muang of Phayao before choosing the site where the capital of the Lanna Kingdom was to be founded.

From then, Chiang Mai not only became the capital and cultural core of the Lanna Kingdom, it was also the centre of Buddhism in northern Thailand. King Meng Rai himself was very religious and founded many of the city’s temples, which are still important today.

At the height of its power, the Lanna Kingdom extended its territory far into Burma and Laos, and southwards to Kamphaeng Phet a province above Sukhothai.

The Burmese conquered the Lanna Kingdom in 1556 ending the dynasty founded by King Meng Rai that lasted over 250 years. As Burma had occupied Chiang Mai for nearly 200 years, Burmese architectural influences are visible in many temples. At the end of the 18th century, King Taksin the Great regrouped the Thais in the south and finally drove the Burmese out with the help of King Kawila of Lampang thereby regaining Thai independence from Burma. Chiang Mai was then governed by a succession of princes who ruled the north as a Siamese protectorate under the Chakri dynasty. In the late 19th century, King Rama V appointed a high commissioner in Chiang Mai and it was only in 1939 that Chiang Mai finally came under the direct control of the central government in Bangkok the same time the country was renamed Thailand.

In the past, Chiang Mai was only accessible by river and elephants. More convenient access was achieved only when the railway line was completed in the late 1920’s. Moreover, the first motor vehicle driven directly from Bangkok arrived in Chiang Mai in 1932. Such isolation was more favorable to Chiang Mai as it helped to nurture and preserve the unique Lanna culture.

When we look at Chiang Mai today, it is the economic, cultural and communications hub of northern Thailand complete with excellent infrastructure, good roads, by passes and road tunnels, and reliable communications infrastructure.

           Jaeng Kuruang – refers to the pagoda with the ash bones of Muen Ruang, the person who imprisoned King Mengrai’s son, Khun Khrua at his house from B.E. 1846-1868.

           Jaeng Hualin – “Hualin” means gutter. Formerly, it used to be a place that collected water from “Huay Kaew” and to flow to the city for public use and that is why it is named Jaeng Hualin.

           Jaeng Sriphoom – “Sriphoom” refers to the good luck, prosperity, power and happiness of Chiang Mai. It’s was the beginning of settlement in Chiang Mai in the reign of King Mengrai in B.E. 1839.

           Jaeng Katam – “Katam” is a kind of local fish trap. In the past, there was a basin reserved with water from Jaeng Hua Lin making it abundant with fish. People used the Katam to catch fish around this corner and later the corner was named Jaeng Katam.

           Suan Dok Gate – It was at first a garden of King Kuena who built Suan Dok temple in the garden.

           Saen Prung Gate – This gate is also called Suan Prung. People of Chiang Mai used this gate as the gateway to move corpses to a graveyard.

           Chiang Mai’s Gate – Formerly, it used to be a route to Lamphun, a town south of Chiang Mai. The gate was restored in the reign of King Kawila in about B.E. 2344 and then reconstructed during B.E. 2509-2512.

           Changpuak Gate – The king of Chiang Mai had to go through this gate and into the city in his coronation ceremony. The name Changpuak is named after the “Changpuak Monument (white elephant)” constructed during B.E. 2509-2512.

General Experiencing the merging of the past into the present in Chiang Mai where locals are proud of the city’s 700-year history. Its rich traditional heritage and unique culture is a perfect foundation for the development of the city. Chiang Mai is one of the few places in Thailand where it is possible to find in the heart of the city centuries-old chedis and temples next to modern convenience stores and boutique hotels. The original city layout still exists as a neat square surrounded by a moat with vestiges of the fortified wall and its four main gates offering prime access to the old town.

For years, tourists have mistaken Chiang Mai as the northern junction and the base from which they can explore other provinces. The phrase "a day in Chiang Mai is enough to see things around" was common. Today, tourists are surprised by the fact that there is always something new to discover Chiang Mai. Intriguing diversity among ethnic tribes coupled with breathtaking scenery makes Chiang Mai one of Asia’s most attractive tourist destinations. Two weeks in Chiang Mai may not be long enough for serious travelers

The old city of Chiang Mai with its fascinating indigenous cultural identity such as diverse dialects, cuisine, architecture, traditional values, festivals, handicrafts and classical dances is a prime location in its own right. In addition, the presence of hill tribes and their wealth of unique cultures enhance Chiang Mai’s distinctive diversity. Chiang Mai is also blessed with pristine natural resources of mountains (dois), waterfalls, and other nature-based tourist attractions. At the same time, Chiang Mai residents are warm, gracious and congenial providing authentic hospitality making visits memorable and meaningful. Moreover, visitors from all walks of life can collect handicrafts of silk, silver and wood produced locally as timeless souvenirs. Chiang Mai is a place where both backpackers and luxury tourists can enjoy themselves to the fullest.

Chiang Mai is also sometimes written as "Chiangmai". This is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand, and is the capital of Chiang Mai Province. It is located some 700 km (435 mi) north of Bangkok, among some of the highest mountains in the country. The city stands on the Ping river, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya river.

In recent years, Chiang Mai has become an increasingly modern city; and although it lacks the cosmopolitan nature of Bangkok, it has many attractions for the thousands of foreign visitors who come each year. Chiang Mai's historic importance is derived from its strategic location on an ancient trade route. Long before the modern influx of foreign visitors, the city served as a major centre for handcrafted goods, umbrellas, jewellery (particularly silver) and woodcarving.[citation needed]

While officially the city (thesaban nakhon) of Chiang Mai only covers most parts of the Mueang Chiang Mai district with a population of 150,000, the urban sprawl of the city now extends into several neighboring districts. This Chiang Mai Metropolitan Area has a population of nearly one million people, more than half the total of Chiang Mai Province.

The city itself is subdivided into four wards (khwaeng): Nakhon Ping, Srivijaya, Mengrai, and Kavila. The first three are on the west bank while Kavila is located on the east bank of the Ping River. Nakhon Ping district covers the north side of the city. Srivijaya, Mengrai, and Kavila cover the west, south, and east side respectively. The central part (the old walled town) is covered mostly by Srivijaya and partly by Nakhon Ping and Mengrai wards.

Religious sites, Temples

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep: the most famous temple in the area, standing on Doi Suthep, a hill to the north-west of the city. This temple dates from 1383. Its builders allegedly chose its site by placing a relic of the Lord Buddha on an elephant's back and letting the elephant roam until it came across a place where it trumpeted and circled before lying down and eventually died. The onlookers took this as marking an auspicious place to build the temple. The temple's location also affords superb views over the city on a clear day.

Wat Chiang Man: the oldest temple in Chiang Mai dating from the 13th century. King Mengrai lived here while overseeing the construction of the city. This temple houses two very important and venerated Buddha figures – Phra Sila (a marble Buddha) and Phra Satang Man (a crystal Buddha).

Wat Phra Singh: located within the city walls, dates from 1345 and offers an example of classic northern Thai style architecture. It houses the Phra Singh Buddha, a highly venerated figure, transferred here many years ago from Chiang Rai. This temple is one of the most important temples in the city. Visitors can also take part in meditation classes here at set times.

Wat Chedi Luang: founded in 1401 and dominated by the large Lanna style chedi which dates from the same time, but took many years to finish. An earthquake damaged the chedi in the 16th century and now only two-thirds of it remains.

Wat Ched Yot: located on the outskirts of the city, this temple, built in 1455, hosted the Eighth World Buddhist Council in 1977.

Wiang Kum Kam: the site of an old city situated on the southern outskirts of Chiang Mai. King Mengrai used this for ten years before the founding of Chiang Mai. The site has a large number of ruined temples.

Wat U-Mong: a forest and cave wat in the foothills in the west of the city, near Chiang Mai University. Wat U-Mong is known for its grotesque concrete fasting Buddha and hundreds of pithy Buddhist proverbs in English and Thai posted on trees throughout its grounds.

Wat Ram Poeng (Tapotaram): near Wat U-Mong, known for its meditation center (Northern Insight Meditation Center) with over 100 Thai and foreigner meditation students and monks attending at any time. The temple teaches the traditional vipassana technique where students stay from 10 days to over a month when they try to meditate at least 10 hours a day.

Wat Suan Dok: a 14th century temple located just west of the old city-wall. The temple was built by the King of Lanna for a revered monk visiting from Sukhothai to spend the rains retreat. The name translates as "the field of flowers temple." There are several unique aspects to this temple. One is the temple's large ubosot (ordination hall). This is unusual not only for its size, but also that it is open on the sides instead of enclosed. Secondly, there are a large number of chedis housing the ashes of the rulers of Chiang Mai. The temple is also the site of Mahachulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya Buddhist University.

There are also around 20 churches,13 mosques,two gurdwaras (Sikh Temples)[8] and one Hindu temple.] 7 out of 13 mosques belong to Chinese or Chin Haw.[10] One of the biggest mosques in Chiang Mai is the Baan Haw Mosque. The two gurdwaras or Sikh temples are Siri Guru Singh Sabha and Namdhari Silk Temple, and the only Hindu temple is Devi Mandir.