Our first trip to the north of Thailand ended in the city of Chiang Rai. In this post, I will talk about the main attractions of Chiang Rai, as well as our general impressions of the city.
White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)
The White Temple in Chiang Rai is the main attraction of the city, for which tourists mainly come here. Construction of the temple began in 1997 and is still ongoing. It is being built at his own expense by one of the most talented living artists and architects in Thailand, Chalermchayu Kositpipat. Exhibitions of his work can be viewed in neighboring buildings. The talent of this man is truly limitless, his paintings and bronze sculptures are simply amazing in their beauty (they cannot be photographed). By the way, the gold clock in the center of Chiang Rai is also his work. Entrance to the territory of the white temple is free.
All tourists visiting the white temple in Chiang Rai are given the opportunity to contribute to the construction of the complex. For 30 baht you can buy an aluminum heart and write your wishes on it. Later, all these hearts are collected and used to form the ceiling in various outdoor structures on the temple grounds. It looks very nice. Few people turn down the opportunity to “publish” their dreams in such an energetic place.
Video tour of the white temple in Chiang Rai:
Black Temple (Baan Dam)
The Black Temple in Chiang Rai is not, in fact, a temple. It's just a big black house with a common interior space, in which some installations and exhibitions of contemporary art periodically take place. The territory of the black temple is quite large and includes many medium and small sized buildings. The whole complex is permeated with a gloomy mood of death, skulls and skins of killed animals lie everywhere. The place is quite interesting, but does not make a particularly strong impression. By the way, it is also being built by a modern Thai architect at his own expense.
Doi Tung Royal Villa
We set aside a whole day to visit the Doi Tung Royal Villa. It is located 55 km from Chiang Rai. We got there on a bike in about an hour and a half. At first the road goes along a wide highway, and for the last 16 km you need to climb uphill along a winding serpentine road with very beautiful views.
The attraction consists of four objects, for the entrance to each of which you need to pay separately, or you can buy a complex ticket. We decided to visit three objects that are located in close proximity to each other: the interactive pavilion, the Mae Pha Luang flower garden and the royal villa itself. Tickets cost us 190 baht per person.
In the interactive pavilion you can get acquainted with the history of the Thai royal family and important events in the life of Thailand in various forms (photos, video, audio). Quite a fascinating excursion.
Just outside the interactive pavilion is the entrance to the Mae Pha Luang Flower Garden. There's not much to say about him. The garden is naturally very beautiful and you can take a huge number of good photographs there. The Thais are great masters at creating beautiful gardens and parks.
Just after the flower garden, a little higher on the mountain, is the Doi Tung Royal Villa. The house is built entirely of wood in the style of a Swiss chalet. The villa is operational and members of the royal family periodically vacation there. At the entrance to the building we were given audio guides in English, with the help of which we learned about some interesting facts from the construction of the villa and the life of the Queen Mother. Filming inside is prohibited.
Search for a hotel in Chiang Rai:
With this, our trip to the north of Thailand has come to an end, and now we are already in the capital of Malaysia, where the Formula 1 racing stage is taking place from March 28 to 30 (post Trip to Malaysia for Formula 1 in March 2014). Also, after returning to Pattaya, we will write a final post about our northern trip, in which we will talk about the most memorable moments and financial expenses.
Northern woman:
Story
Chiang Rai is older than Chiang Mai and was founded in 1262 by King Mengrai (1239-1317), who used it as his residence. Previously, in this convenient place on the Kok River, a tributary of the Mekong, the Lava and Moi tribes settled for centuries. For many years the city was under Burmese rule and only in 1786 (four years after Bangkok became the capital) it became part of Thailand. Little is known about its previous history, but the further development of the city turned out to be closely connected with the history of Chiang Mai and Chiang Saen, located 60 km away.
How to get there
- By car:
from Lampang on national highway No. 1 (240 km), from Chiang Mai on highway No. 107 almost to Phang, then highway No. 109 and No. 1 (268 km). - By bus:
from Chiang Mai and Bangkok (from the Northern Bus Station) daily. - By plane:
from Bangkok and Chiang Mai up to six flights per day. - By train:
The nearest railway station is Chiang Mai (180 km).
What to see
Wat Phra Kaew Don Tau
It was in Chiang Rai that the famous Jade Buddha was found, which was kept for many years in the Phra Kaew Don Tau Temple (now in the Phra Kaew Temple in the Grand Palace, Bangkok). In 1434, one of the chedi wats of Phra Kaew Dontau was struck by lightning; As a result of restoration work, a nondescript plaster figurine was found. However, under the plaster, a 75-centimeter jade statue of Buddha was discovered, which attracted the attention of King Mengrai.
He certainly wanted to get the statue to his capital. However, it was decided to leave the decision to the elephant on whose back the precious burden was attached. At the decisive fork, the animal turned not to Chiang Mai, but to neighboring Lampang, where the Jade Buddha stood in the Phra That Lampang Luang wat until 1468, and from here it eventually ended up in Chiang Mai and in 1782, after further vicissitudes - to Bangkok. The Phra Kaew Don Tau Temple has particularly beautiful wooden facades with carvings and paintings. This temple complex, like the neighboring Wat Phra Sing, was built in the 15th century. Both sanctuaries were restored and rebuilt many times.
Wat Mung Mueang, Wat Chet Yot
Mung Mueang Temple has a beautiful carved pediment and several Buddha statues in the Chiang Sai style (XI-XVI centuries). Wat Chet Yot is distinguished by a gracefully proportioned vihan and a chedi with seven turrets on a rectangular base.
Neighborhoods of Chiang Rai
Malau Reservoir
The local population enjoys relaxing at the beautiful Maelaw Reservoir (on National Highway 1 to the south, then on Highway 109 towards Fang).
Maesai
Highway No. 110 north leads to Mae Sai (63 km), the northernmost point of Thailand (1010 km from Bangkok). This small border town with bustling markets used to lie on an important trade route to China. Here you can get a one-day visa to Myanmar using your passport as collateral.
Luang Cave
Luang Cave (Tham Luang) is the largest (5-10 m high) of four caves discovered several years ago south of Mae Sai. For the first kilometer you can simply walk along it, using the stairs and paths. The remaining six are best left to speleologists with special equipment.
Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong
Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong is very popular among pilgrims; located at the foot of Thong Mountain (1330 m). At the beginning of March, tens of thousands of people flock here by car, bus, motorcycle and simply on foot. A 17 km long steep path leads to the temple, starting from Highway No. 110 near the village of Huai Krai. From the top a magnificent panorama of northern Thailand opens, for which alone it would be worth climbing here. The temple buildings themselves are of recent construction and are of no interest. Near the Burmese border in the town of Mae Chan, there is a training center (Mae Chan Community Station), where specialists teach mountaineers alternative occupations to opium production.
If you go further along the unpaved road behind the Community Station, you find yourself in Kosenchay, an Akha village. The wooden swing at the entrance to the village is used in fertility ceremonies. Large families live in huts on stilts with low-hanging roofs. Akhu dwellings are divided into male and female halves. Most hill tribes have their own language and animistic beliefs. All things seem to them to be under the control of spirits. Thus, in their opinion, evil spirits live in water, so the mountaineers try to avoid washing as much as possible.
Since 1976, the Thai government has been taking measures to assimilate the hill tribes, which, however, is moving very slowly. The Akha, living in the mountains around Chiang Rai, have retained their cultural identity to the greatest extent. They still practice traditional crafts. The government maintains several offices in Chiang Rai of the Thai Hillcraft Foundation, an institution that markets silverware, embroidery and textiles.
It is strictly not recommended to go to the mountain tribes without a guide who knows the language and the area. Language difficulties can lead to misunderstandings with unpleasant consequences. It goes without saying that unobtrusiveness is implied (especially when it comes to photography).
Wat Rong Khun - White Temple
Chiang Rai is the northernmost capital of the province of the same name in Thailand and one of the oldest cities in the country. This is a very provincial and not the most popular tourist place; there are no beach holidays, luxury hotels and the usual entertainment of Thailand. People come here to take a break from noisy cities and enjoy the picturesque beauty of the surrounding nature: fields and mountains, beautiful waterfalls, thermal springs and deep mysterious caves.
Chiang Rai is located 185 kilometers north of Chiang Mai, its population is about 100,000 people. The city has a unique location, thanks to which it is visited both by those who purposefully came here and by travelers on excursions to neighboring countries: Chiang Rai is located not far from the “Golden Triangle”, where the borders of three countries – Laos, Thailand and Myanmar – connect. Such a favorable location allowed the provincial capital to become the commercial center of the area. The city is also unique for its multinationality, which is explained by the transition of several mountain tribes to the Christian and Muslim faith. This led to the presence on its territory, in addition to traditional Buddhist temples, also of Christian churches and Islamic mosques. The once wild tribal areas are gradually being filled with tea and coffee plantations.
Clock tower - Clock tower - Area: 61 km²;
- Time zone: UTC+7;
- Population: 67,200.
general information
King Mengrai is considered the founder of the city. From 1262, for almost 20 years, this was the capital of the Lanna Kingdom. Then, the status of the center passed for a short time to the city of Lamphun, and already in 1286 Chiang Mai was appointed the capital. For a long time Chiang Rai was under Burmese rule. At the end of the 19th century, the territory was annexed by the Kingdom of Siam. And only in 1933, the city, as a province of the same name, became part of Thailand.
Local residents love their region for its special climate, which is not typical for Thailand. In the central and southern regions of the country it is very hot and humid at any time of the day. Chiang Rai's weather is comfortable: despite the fact that daytime temperatures reach +35⁰C, in the evening and at night the thermometer drops to +15⁰C. In addition, there is optimal air humidity here.
Wat Phra Kaew - Wat Phra Kaew Temple Transport
8 kilometers from Chiang Rai there is an airport serving exclusively flights from. Therefore, to get here from our country, you will need at least one transfer. There is no railway connection with the city. Transport connections with neighboring large cities are provided through bus routes.
There is no public transport in the city; you can only get around by taxi: both budget tuk-tuks and more expensive air-conditioned cars offer their services. However, the city is small and very compact, so you can walk around all the sights of Chiang Rai in a few hours. 
Baan Dam - Black Temple
A selection of profitable air tickets through Aviadiscounter (searches like Aviasales + a selection of airline promotions and sales).
| From where to where | departure date | Find a ticket |
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Bangkok → Chiang Rai | ||
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Phuket → Chiang Rai | ||
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Kuala Lumpur → Chiang Rai | ||
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Surat Thani → Chiang Rai | ||
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Hat Yai → Chiang Rai | ||
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Udon Thani → Chiang Rai | ||
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Ubon Ratchathani → Chiang Rai | ||
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Macau → Chiang Rai | ||
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Yangon → Chiang Rai | ||
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Changsha → Chiang Rai | ||
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Krabi → Chiang Rai | ||
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Siem Reap → Chiang Rai | ||
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Kolkata → Chiang Rai | ||
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Sanya → Chiang Rai | ||
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Seoul → Chiang Rai |
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What to see
There are not very many interesting places in the city itself - there are several temples, as well as the beautiful Golden Clock Tower, with spectacular evening lighting.
Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao is located in the historical district of the city and is famous for the fact that an ancient emerald Buddha statue was discovered here and was transported to Bangkok to Wat Phra Kaew. A copy of the sculpture is installed in the Chiang Rai temple.
The Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong Temple, located at the foot of Mount Thong, although newly built, has already gained popularity among many tourists and pilgrims. There is a long steep path to the temple, 17 kilometers long. But those who reach it will be rewarded with a magnificent view of the panorama of northern Thailand. It's worth coming here just for this spectacle. 
Neighborhood
The bulk of the popular tourist sites are located in the vicinity of Chiang Rai. And of course the most famous is Wat Rong Kun or the White Temple, which has become the hallmark of Chiang Rai, which is depicted in all advertising photos of Thailand. The sacred monastery is located a few kilometers from the city. Its construction began in 1997 by one of the most outstanding contemporary architects and artists of the country - Chalermchayu Kositpipat, who, at his own expense, still continues to add more and more new elements to his creation. In the buildings adjacent to the White Temple there are exhibitions of works by the talented architect. Both the presented paintings and bronze sculptures amaze and delight with their unusualness and beauty. However, tourists should know that you won’t be able to take a photo here; you simply won’t be allowed to do so. A visit to the White Temple is free, but every tourist is given the opportunity to participate in the construction of the complex: for a nominal fee you can purchase a small aluminum heart and write your cherished wishes on it. All the hearts are collected and used to decorate the ceilings of various structures located on the territory of the temple. This original composition looks very beautiful. Tourists gladly agree to the opportunity to “publish” their dreams in a strong energetic place. 
In the vicinity of Chiang Rai there is also the Black Temple, which in essence is not a temple. This is a large open-air museum, which is a black house, made according to the rules of Thai traditions, on a vast territory, where various exhibitions of contemporary art are almost constantly held. The space around the Black Temple itself includes about 40 small buildings. In general, the architectural complex is imbued with a gloomy mood of death: animal skins and skulls lie everywhere.
55 kilometers from Chiang Rai, the Doi Tung Royal Villa is located, consisting of four paid objects, while at the entrance you can purchase a comprehensive ticket or select the most interesting places and pay only for their visit.
The interactive pavilion, through photos, videos and audio materials, introduces tourists to the history of the royal family and the most important events of Thailand. Immediately behind the pavilion is the beautiful Mae Fa Luang flower garden. The royal villa itself, made of wood, is located on the mountain. Members of the royal family still like to relax here. Any type of photography is prohibited here. 
Wat Phra Sing - Wat Phra Sing Temple
City museums
There are several museums in Chiang Rai, including the Mountain Tribes Museum, which tells about the history of the northern peoples, their traditions and culture. The exhibits include household utensils, weapons, and tools used in agriculture. There is an Educational Center at the museum that organizes excursions around the region, and the funds received from this are used to support the tribes.
The Golden Bowl Museum, located in the city center, offers visitors a look at items from the royal courts of Thailand, Burma, China, and Vietnam.
The City Hall building houses the local history museum and the Ho-Vattanatham-Nitat Museum.
Chiang Rai is not a resort city with a lot of tourists, but it embodies the traditions of the northern peoples of the country and, combined with beautiful nature, ancient history and a friendly, hospitable atmosphere, it can be called a truly charming and unique place.
The borders of three amazing Asian states - Thailand, Myanmar and Laos - constitute a special region called the Golden Triangle. The total area of the region is quite large, while the tourist center is the confluence of the Mekong and Ruak rivers in the village of Sop Ruak in Thailand. Travelers from all over the world head to the north of the country to see with their own eyes three great countries at the same time.
But not so long ago, completely different motives brought people here. The “opium paradise” attracted smugglers with a thirst for profit. The policies of neighboring powers have successfully overcome the situation, and this issue is no longer on the agenda. So what can you profit from in the Golden Triangle now? The pristine beauty of Don Sao Island, a descent along the Mekong River, a visit to the observation deck at the top of Wat Phra That and, of course, a visit to the opium museum will diversify your vacation.
Kok River
The Kok River is the deepest and longest river in Northern Thailand. It begins in Myanmar, flows through picturesque places, some of which are nature reserves, and flows into the Mekong River in the Golden Triangle area, where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet. The border in this place is precisely the river.
Kok links the Thai provinces of Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai and is the most important route between them. This is why walks along the Kok River are so popular among tourists: following the flow of the river, you can watch the inhabitants of these places, stop the boat near the shore and continue traveling through the jungle, or get to the city to admire the ancient temples.
What sights of Chiang Rai did you like? Next to the photo there are icons, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.
Mount Doi Tung
Mount Doi Tung is located in the Golden Triangle. This “Triangle” is the intersection of the borders of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand. The main income of local peasants has always been income from growing opium poppies, which had a detrimental effect on the local population. However, in the 80s of the last century, the royal family began to revive these places, and Doi Tung became one of the most important projects. The once disadvantaged region turned into a blooming garden when the mother of the current monarch of Thailand moved into the palace built here especially for her.
The Doi Tung project occupies 150 sq. km of land and employs more than 11 thousand people. Now, instead of opium poppies, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and coffee are grown here. The project is directly supervised by the royal family.
Wat Rong Khun Temple is considered to be the most unusual Buddhist temple in Thailand. It is relatively young - its construction began in 1997. The creator of this unique monument is the Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, who, according to rumors, erected the temple only with his own money in order to perpetuate his name in history. The artist made every detail, every roof slope, every figure in the temple according to his own sketches.
It is simply impossible to describe the temple in words. It looks as if it was created not by man, but by some unprecedented force. The stark white jagged temple is surrounded by ponds teeming with sacred fish. Inside the temple you can look at the works of the artist Chalermchayu and even buy some of them.
Monument to King Mengrai
In Chiang Rai, at the exit from the city, next to the road to Mae Chan, there is a tall dark monument against the backdrop of a golden carved wall with sharp ends. This is a monument to Koroi Mengrai, the founder of the city. According to legend, King Mengrai was looking for his elephant on the banks of the Kok River and, admiring the beauty of the area, decided to found a city here. Many city tours start from this place as a sign of respect to the founding king.
Opium Museum
The world's most famous Opium Museum is located in Thailand for good reason. It was in this country that almost until the end of the 20th century, opium production was almost the only means of ensuring the life of local peasants. The museum's exposition is designed in such a way that, moving from one exhibition to another, one can imagine the development of the production of narcotic drugs in Thailand from ancient times to the present day. The museum's extensive collection includes production tools, agricultural implements, posters, as well as modern multimedia resources.
The museum is open every day except Monday from 8.30 to 16.00.
Museum "House of Opium"
In the very center of the Golden Triangle is the private museum “House of Opium”. Its collection is not as extensive and varied as that of the large and famous Hall of Opium, but it is also worthy of attention. Here are examples of agricultural implements used in poppy cultivation, utensils for making opium, a collection of old photographs and much more. The entrance ticket price is several times cheaper than a ticket to the large Opium Museum.
In addition, the “House of Opium” is open every day, seven days a week, from 7.00 to 19.00
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Wat Umong Temple
Wat Umong is one of the most unusual temples in Thailand. It was founded in 1927.
The temple consists of caves that are connected by tunnels. Translated from Thai, "Umong" means "Tunnel". Inside the underground temple there are Buddha statues illuminated by candles.
Most of the territory is occupied by a pond and forest. The pond is home to large carp and turtles. “Wise trees” grow in the forest near the temple; there are signs with written Buddhist sayings on them. The temple houses a replica of the Ashoka pillar with four lion heads and the wheel of Dharma, installed in the 13th century. This is a world symbol of the spread of Buddhism.
There is also a library-museum and a meditation school, classes in which are taught in English.
The most popular attractions in Chiang Rai with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places in Chiang Rai on our website.
More attractions of Chiang Rai
