Attractions in Chiang Mai

The city Chiang Mai It is a very large city in Thailand, the second largest after the capital - Bangkok. It is located in the northern part of the country and is, in fact, the main gateway to this part. Those interested in experiencing and learning about the local culture up close will find in Chiang Mai everything they need to do so, and all this alongside special attractions and points of interest that definitely justify the visit both in the city itself and in its immediate surroundings.

The temples of Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai has over 300 temples scattered in different areas: throughout the city itself and in its rural surroundings, making it, in a sense, the temple capital of Thailand. Most of these temples date from the 13th to the 18th centuries and are in the "Lanna" style, native to the place. This style is characterized by curved wooden roofs and other spectacular elements. There are a number of temples that must be visited, ones that attract crowds. They may indeed be busy and crowded with visitors, but you should not miss visiting at least some of them. This is also a great opportunity to learn a lot about the culture itself and meet the locals. 

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

This temple is an integral part of Chiang Mai and is among the most famous temples of the city. Some argue that visiting it is a must, both because of its structure and because of the view from it. It overlooks the city and offers beautiful views from the peak on which it sits. In 1981, the temple along with the 161 square kilometers of the forest where it is located became part of a national park, the 24th in number in Thailand. About a year later, an additional 100 square kilometers were added to the entire area, making the entire park an area of ​​261 square kilometers, a very large area by all accounts. 

Wat Lok Molee

Here, too, it is a very ancient temple in Chiang Mai, which also includes a manicured garden from the 14th century and a very impressive prayer hall. It is located outside the old city and is less known, compared to other temples in the city itself. Its complex also has a variety of small stupas, replicas of other stupas in Thailand and at the entrance guests are greeted by two impressive stone elephants. The temple also has Buddha images, special mosaics on the walls of the main halls and even a small cafe, which serves cold and hot drinks as well as light snacks of all kinds. 

Wat phra singh

This is the second most important temple in Chiang Mai, after Wat Phra Doi Suthep. It includes three buildings, where the main attraction is a hall decorated with magnificent wall paintings, which recreate the lives of the locals hundreds of years ago. The temple complex is packed with visitors and worshipers all year round, but especially during the Thai New Year festival in mid-April. 

Wat chedi luang

This is one of the most beautiful temples in Chiang Mai. With a magnificent and dignified pagoda, built between 1385 and 1402, during the reign of King San Muang Ma, the seventh ruler of the Mengray dynasty, this temple is considered a must-visit site. It characterizes the city's skyline and is the most sacred religious relic in Thailand, which was once the home of the Emerald Buddha. Although it was damaged during an earthquake in 1545 and its size was reduced to almost half of its original size, this temple is considered a magnificent and very well-invested building. In 1992, the restoration work around it was finished, including the restoration of the charming elephant statues that decorate its base. However, in practice, the work on it was never completed and signs of this can be seen in the place to this day. 

Wat Suan Dok

This temple was built in the late 14th century and contains several buildings of historical importance in Thailand. Among them you can find the main pagoda, a garden where the ashes of the rulers of Chiang Mai are located, as well as an open space. The temple is outside the old city wall, about one kilometer east of Saar Suan Doc. The temple was built by the King of Chiang Mai in order to be used as a place to relax and take a break, when originally it was intended to serve the monks. 

Wat Umong

This special temple is the only one located inside a wooded area and it consists of old ruins, dating back to the 13th century, when it was mainly used for meditation and prayer. The temple complex is regularly visited by monks, who are often engaged in prayer and the tunnels are rarely used for meditation for visitors to the place. There are several enclaves with Buddha statues and if you look closely at the ceilings of the tunnels in the temple you can recognize ancient drawings of elephants and temples from the 13th or 14th century. To the left of the temple tunnels is a large lake and a small island, connected by a bridge.
The temple is open to visitors every day from 6:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m. 

Wat Phan Tao

It is a beautiful wooden temple, surrounded by an ornate and elaborate garden. For some reason it receives less attention, compared to others, but it definitely warrants a visit. Mainly due to the fact that all the others, the famous ones, may be crowded with tourists in the peak season, while it is calmer and more pleasant. When you enter it, you discover the main prayer hall where on the right and left side is a path leading to the stupa, located in the back. The prayer hall of the temple is made of dark teak wood and inside there is a golden Buddha statue.
The temple is open from 7:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m. 

Wat phra that doi kham

This special temple, known as the "Golden Temple" is on top of a hill, southwest of Chiang Mai. The views from the top of the temple definitely justify the visit and you can see the city and the mountains that surround it. This temple is visited by quite a few Thais, who come to see the Buddha figure, which is 17 meters high, up close. This Buddha is decorated with gold and hence the name of the temple. There are 300 steps, leading directly to the temple, steps decorated with a long, winding snake on each side. For those who do not want to climb the many steps, an SUV is offered that will take them directly up the mountain, to the temple and also take care of bringing them back down.
The temple is open to visitors from 6:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m.

Wat Sri Suphan

This is one of the most visited temples in the city, one that attracts both locals and tourists. The Wat Sri Supan temple is also known as the "Silver Temple" due to the silver ornaments, the work of the sea, that adorn it. The temple is completely covered in silver, both its walls and roof, displaying detailed silver carvings of familiar Buddhist legends. Even the Buddha statues there are covered in silver, which makes it very unique in the landscape of temples. Over the years, parts of it were renovated and repaired with money collected by the locals, when only in 2008 was the project completed. Women are not allowed to enter the interior of the temple due to old Buddhist rules and must stay outside. Outside the temple you can see local artists, who offer their silver works and on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings, a meeting with local monks is held in the temple, who answer questions from those interested in Buddhist topics and even group meditation is held. 

Wat chiang man

This temple is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai, the construction of which began back in 1306, although parts were added to it in later centuries and this is the reason why when visiting it you see several different types of architecture. The temple has two meditation halls, decorated in gold and red and including images of the Buddha. Inside the largest hall of their buildings is the oldest Buddha image in Chiang Mai, a Buddha standing with an alms bowl in his hand.
The place is open to visitors from 8:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m.

Special points of interest in the city and surroundings

Apart from centuries-old ancient temples, Chiang Mai has quite a lot to see and do. This is also the reason why many travelers choose to dedicate several days to it and sometimes even more, if only to take advantage of everything it has to offer. It is highly recommended to combine, when visiting the city, a stop at the additional points of interest there and to check in advance what the opening and closing hours are.

Chiang Mai Night Safari

The Chiang Mai Night Safari Park is designed according to the well-known Singapore Night Safari. Its purpose is to provide its visitors with a particularly fascinating experience, similar to the one experienced on a safari at night. Along with the tour of the three animal areas: the savannah, the predator area and the jaguar trail, you can enjoy a wide variety of different activities, such as feeding wild animals and even young tiger cubs. The place is 12 km from the city and is open every day from 11 am to 23 pm. 

Chiang Mai's Elephant Jungle Sanctuary

This place is one of the most prominent attractions in the city and also an attraction of great importance, in regards to the preservation of animals. The Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary serves as a "nursing home" for the gentle giant elephants, who worked in the logging and tourism industries. There is an unmediated meeting between the elephants and the visitors, without unnecessary gimmicks that harm the elephants, without riding or any other activity that interferes with their way of life. This is a "moral and responsible tourist attraction", which works in cooperation with local tribes. It is home to more than thirty elephants who live their lives quietly and comfortably. 

Doi Inthanon National Park

This special place is on the highest peak in Thailand, at an altitude of 2,565 meters above sea level, which means that between the months of October and February the temperatures there drop below zero. The park covers an area of ​​482 square kilometers and is a wonderful tourist attraction, especially for those who want to experience the local nature up close. It is covered in lush tropical forests, punctuated by mighty rivers and impressive waterfalls. It is considered a protected park, which serves as a refuge for a very wide variety of animals and is also the place Perfect for birdwatching, it has over 300 different species of birds and is home to very rare species of birds. 

Bo Sang Artist Village

This charming artists' village, located 9 kilometers east of the old city, specializes in the manufacture of umbrellas and is considered one of the popular attractions close to Chiang Mai. The people of the village are known for producing high quality umbrellas, as well as producing other types of handicrafts, which are known both in the near and far vicinity. In the village you can find a huge variety of handmade umbrellas, small, large, beautiful and stylish umbrellas. They are all made of special paper, produced from the bark of a special fruit tree combined with cotton. The design of the umbrellas has evolved over the years and is influenced by Chiang Mai's rural landscapes and abstract patterns. 

Lanna Museum

This fascinating museum presents the life of the Lena people, residents of northern Thailand. It teaches a lot about their customs, their culture and their long-standing heritage. The museum, also known as the "Lanna Heritage Center" is located in the center of the old city and sits inside the old Chiang Mai Municipal Court. The museum building has been renovated and is now seen as a building designed in a colonial style.
The museum is open to visitors from Tuesday to Sunday, from 08:30 to 17:00.