Chiang Mai, the pearl of Northern Thailand

Chiang Mai is a large well-known city in northern Thailand at about 700 km from Bangkok. Many tourists visit this place during a journey through this stunning country. The climate is somewhat cooler than in Central and South Thailand. Chiang Mai offers many cultural highlights and is best known for its vast collection of temples. This article highlights a number of tips and some advice to help you enjoy a visit to Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai was founded in 1296 and the city is bordered by a river that is called Ping. Because the Ping regularly flooded during the monsoon a wall was built around the city. This wall still exists and the area inside the walls is called the ancient city. Chiang Mai was once a stop on the Silk Road, which obviously favored the economic climate in the city. Chiang Mai is under the influence of tourism, but is has not changed as fast as the southern parts of Thailand.

Part of Chiang Mai's popularity is due to its climate. The temperature is more pleasant here than in the hot Bangkok. From mid-November to January temperatues fluctuate between 13°C and 28°C. The hills around Chiang Mai are colder. In February the temperature begins to rise and in the dry season (March to May) the temperature varies between 17°C and 36°C. In the rainy season (June to mid-November), the maximum temperature does drop somewhat, but the minimum temperatures rarely rise. In Chiang Mai the daytime temperature is approximately equal to the nighttime temperature. If rain falls, it falls mostly sporadic, except in August and September during the peak of the rainy season. Then the streets sometimes flood.

Most accommodation is located in the eastern part of the city. Many guesthouses and hotels would like to persuade you to join one of the many treks in the vicinity of Chiang Mai. They prefer you to book through them. If you're not ready to book a trekking with your accommodation, this can sometimes cause unpleasant reactions. Hotels and guesthouses are earning a large proportion of their income with the trekkings.

In Chiang Mai there are more than 300 temples, that is almost as many as in Bangkok (which is a much larger city). The temples in Chiang Mai are characterized by their architectural style that points back to the Lanna period (13th and 14th centuries). It is easy to rent a bike and explore the temples within the city walls on your own.

Below, a number of important temples in Chiang Mai are briefly explained.
Wat Phra Singh
A beautiful temple within the city walls. It is a good example of architecture from the Lanna period and during Songkran (water festival in April) This temple is a must-see.
Wat Chiang Man
This is the oldest temple within the city walls, here are some beautiful and famous Buddha statues.
Wat Chedi Luang
Here you will find a wonderful old chedi (also named stupa).
What Jet Yot
This temple was built in the image of the Mahad Bodhi temple in India.
What Suan Dok
Here you will find a 500 years old bronze Buddha image and some very nice murals.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
This temple is located a little outside the city on a hill, but is definitely worth a visit. It is one of the holiest temples in northern Thailand and many pilgrims come here. The stairs to the temple are decorated with ceramic Nagas (mythical creatures).

1. Before you enter a temple, you have to remove your shoes.
2. You need to wear appropriate clothing (the upper arms must be covered beyond the shoulders and the legs approximately to mid-calf).
3. Your feet should never point towards a Buddha image. In Buddhism, pointing with the soles is seen as unclean or even insulting. Keep your legs under your body as you sit on the floor.
4. This speaks for itself, but visitors must conduct themselves properly. Do not disturb the peace in a temple.
5. Monks should not touch women. If a woman wants to give a gift to a monk, this is only possible through a male intermediary or by laying the gift next to the monk on the floor.

In Chiang Mai you can join a lot of courses. There are meditation classes, massage training courses and Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) courses. But the most popular courses in Chiang Mai are the cooking classes. In these courses (mostly one day) you will learn to prepare a number of typical Thai dishes. This is an absolute must-do. The courses are often very nice and a lot of fun. Before you know it you will soon be able to cook your favorite Thai dish in your own kitchen.

One of the most popular acitivities in northern Thailand is trekking. On these treks you go into the mountains for several days. Depending on the trekking you will go hiking, mountain biking, driving jeeps, elephant riding, rafting, or a combination thereof. The more extensive, the more expensive. Many treks visit hill tribes. Of course the beautiful nature is one of the biggest draws for this acitivity.

The offer and the prices range from budget and simple to extensice and expensive. It is best to enter a number of travel companies and acquire. The trekking industry has grown significantly in recent years. Many treks can now be undertaken by people who are not physically fit. Some experienced hikers find the treks in this region therefore a disappointment. For others it is the highlight of their trip.

Within and around the city walls you can manage just fine on bicycles or by foot. It is also possible to rent a motorbike, but beware of the busy and chaotic traffic in this city. Chiang Mai is well connected to other major cities in Thailand by bus, train or plane.