Chiang Rai tourist guide
Chiang Rai city is the capital of Thailand's northernmost province of the same name, and is located approximately 182kms North of Chiang Mai. The city has a distinguished history that stretches back to the reign of King Mengrai, who established Chiang Rai as the capital of the Lanna Kingdom in 1262, before moving south to Chiang Mai three decades later. With historic monuments of its own, but without the brass rubbing of mass tourism, it is far quieter than Chiang Mai though less polished.
Chiang Rai and its surrounding areas present a wealth of attractions for visitors. The city has an abundance of markets, selling a myriad of goods ranging from fresh foods to flowers, clothes and souvenirs. The Night Bazaar, between Pahonyothin road and the bus stop, is a bustling melting pot of cabaret shows, well-priced food, open-air bars and stalls selling an enticing selection of local handicrafts, jewellery, and art.
The city's Main Market, located adjacent to the songteaw terminus, offers almost everything you could possibly ask for. Its wares include a kaleidoscope of Oriental crafts and specialties, fresh and cooked food, domestic products, Buddhist statues and amulets, medicinal remedies, and much more. In addition to these two major markets, there is also a charming fruit and flower market to the north of the bus station, and a fresh food market near the Oub Kham Museum, covered with a typically Shan style roof.
Culturally, Chiang Rai is a mishmash of ethnic communities, and the city is peppered with a varied selection of religious structures that serve these different groups. Wat Phra Singh, situated in the northern section of the old town, contains one of oldest Buddha images in Northern Thailand. However, it is the abundance of hill tribes in the province which had an interesting facet to the city - and the streets are sometimes awash with colour as these minority groups in their bright traditional costumes hawk their wares.
Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) has the same name as the more famous temple in Bangkok. It was from this northern temple that the revered jade Buddha statue - now displayed in Bangkok - was stolen in 1436 and taken off to Laos. When it was eventually reclaimed several centuries later it found a new home in the Grand Palace of Bangkok. The ancient mosque in Issaraphap road has been in existence for over a hundred years, and the Buddhist temple of Wat Thai Yai is distinctively Northern in style
Chiang Rai also features two worthwhile museums, Haw Kham Mae Fah Luang Royal Museum and the Oub Kham Museum. The former, which can be found on Rajyotha road, exhibits religious artefacts in an old teak house, and is encircled by manicured gardens and an attractive lake. Oub Kham, near the military hospital, displays objects pertaining to the extensive history of the Lanna kingdom.
Flowing through the centre of Chiang Rai is the 130-kilometre-long Mae Kok River, offering ideal opportunities for rafting. It is one of Thailand's most unspoilt rivers, meandering through jungle-covered landscapes and between steep mountain cliffs. A popular activity is to catch boats in Thaton, more than hundred kilometers northwest and find your way to Chiang Rai by water. The river bank has created a fresh water beach just west of town, Had Chiang Rai or Pattaya Noi, and the sandy stretch is known for its fabulous view and a scattering of restaurants and shade-houses.
Outside of the city are a number of enormously popular attractions, the most significant of which is the famed Golden Triangle, the site where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet on the Mekong River. The Chiang Saen National Museum, named for the town in which it is situated, is a fascinating artworks museum housing local crafts, beautiful bronze Buddha images and other Lanna-style creations.
Doi Mae Salong is a small mountainside settlement approximately 80kms from Chiang Rai, where a high percentage of the population consists of Chinese refugees. It is known for its high quality tea and fruit crops, panoramic views, and cherry trees that bloom magnificently in the month of January.
At 2,000m above sea level, atop the peak of Doi Tung, is Phrathat Doi Tung, a holy shrine that acts as a Buddhist Mecca for followers of the religion. The relic can be accessed via a treacherous mountain pass, and is surrounded on all sides by awe-inspiring vistas. Another attraction on Doi Tung, which is considered the pride of Chaing Rai province is Mae Fah Luang Arboretum (Botanical Garden) further up the mountain from the temple. It is literally seated on the border and apart from the magnificent gardens and exotic species which where planted under the supervision of the present king's mother, the views of the Thai side are fantastic.
The town of Maesai, on the border with Myanmar, is a favoured destination for those needing to renew their visa by means of a day trip over to the small Myanmar town of Tachilek, which offers good shopping for cheap Chinese goods.
Tha ton is another curious place that gets a fair amount of visitors, chiefly because it’s a way point en-route to the far north by the alternative (and safer) 107 route. It sits right on the Burmese border, straddling the Kok river and has an intriquing hillside temple with numerous Buddhist statues and deities. Tha Ton is also the setting off point for boat trips down the river, and within easy reach of Mae Salong. Staying overnight here is peaceful, and there are several riverside bungalows. The more comfortable upmarket Mae Kok River Village resort, is recommended.
Chiang Rai city can be accessed by bus from Bangkok in approximately 11 hours, or via daily flights from Bangkok, Chiang Mai and other destinations. Hiring a car to get there is most practical, although the windy roads can be a little trecherous due to reckless drivers.
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