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THAILAND | Chiang Mai, Thailand Travel Guide
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
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Sightseeing in Chiang Mai
Sightseeing in Chiang Mai
Temples in the Old City of Chiang Mai
There are three important temples within Chiang Mai's city walls – Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh, and Wat Chiang Man. Wat Chedi Luang is on Pokklao Road and is where the city pillar shrine is located. This temple, built in the 14th century is famous for its massive chedi, or pagoda, which is 282 feet high and 144 feet wide at its base. Its spire collapsed during an earthquake in 1545. The pair of staircases at the front porch is a major feature of the temple.
Wat Phra Singh, on Samlan Road, was built in 1345 and is home to the North’s most revered Buddha statue, Phra Phuttha Sihing. Every year on Songkran Day, the Thai New Year on April 13, local residents sprinkle scented on the statue as it is paraded on the streets of Chiang Mai.
Wat Chiang Man, off Ratchapakhinai Road in the northeast corner of the old city, is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai. It was built in 1296 by King Mengrai, the founder of the city. The temple is noted for its Lanna-style chedi supported by rows of elephant- shaped buttresses.
Temples Outside Chiang Mai
The most notable of these is the famed Wat Phra Doi Suthep, which is well worth the journey. Others include Wat Suan Dok on Suthep Road, which has a 500-year-old bronze Buddha, one of Thailand’s largest metal images. The temple was built in 1370 during the reign of Lanna ruler King Kuena. Wat U-Mong, also on Suthep Road, was built in 1296 by the city’s founder King Mengrai. The temple is noted its unusual tunnel- like construction.
Chiang Mai Zoo
On Huay Kaew Road, outside the Superhighway on the road to the Doi Suthep Mountain. Something we didn’t expect to find in Chiang Mai was this well-stocked and well-run zoo. Within this 40-acre park, which attracts 700,000 visitors a year, they’ve got an endless number of things to do and see. There are 7,000 animals, 5,000 birds, 1,200 fish and 218 reptiles. There is a children’s zoo where they encourage group visits of youngsters to play with a variety of pets and enjoy animal shows; call them at 05322 1179 if you want to arrange special treatment for a younger group. There is an island where gibbons live and breed freely without cages or enclosures. Another area is dedicated to the Humboldt penguins, which seem to have adapted well to Thai living. For those who care to sleep under canvas there is a camping ground used mostly by day-trippers for picnics. Animal feeding times are posted by the entrance gate where you also find an assortment of dining spots for human visitors.
Last updated September 23, 2008
Posted in Thailand | Chiang Mai
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