Home Up Chiang Mai Phetchabun Chiang Rai Loei Nakhon PhanonChiang Mai

 

 



Introduction
Chiang Mai is a city built on the roots of a traditional heritage that dig deep into the soil of time. It's a city with a beautiful cultural personality of its own. In addition, it's been blessed with much majestic beauty in nature. The people themselves are an unforgettable part of Chiang Mai. Handicrafts of silk, silver and wood are timeless souvenirs for visitors from all over the globe. Along with all this, a wide variety of accommodations, restaurants, and entertainment all help to make Chiang Mai one of Thailand's prime tourist attractions..

 

Attractions: Natural beauty
Mountains :
 
MountainsNorthern Thailand is characterized largely by forested mountains, where working elephants are still used in forest management. This mountainous region is home to Thailand's many colorful hilltribe people, and trekking and river rafting enable adventurous exploration of this beautiful area. Chiang Mai is the principal norhtern city and is a good base from which to explore the surrounding countryside. 
Doi InthanonDoi Inthanon National Park : The 1,005 - square - kilometre park covers Thailand's highest mountain (2,565 metres). The lovely Wachirathan, Siriphum and Mae Pan waterfalls share the mountain with Meo and Karen hilltribe settlements. Forest above 1,800 metres is covered with lichens and wild orchids. 
Mae Klang WaterfallMae Klang Waterfall : Chiang Mai's most photographed waterfall lies some 58 kilometres west of the city at the foot of Doi Inthanon Mountain, and provides a picturesque setting for picnics and relaxation.
Borichinda Cave : Visiting the cave, which provides a pleasant setting for picnics, entails a 10-minute drive and a walk of some 2 hours from the Mae Klang Waterfall.
Ob Luang GorgeMae Ya Waterfall : This is located 12 kilometres from Chom Thong market and is best visited by local mini-bus. 
Ob Luang Gorge : This picturesque gorge is 88 kilometres from Chiang Mai provincial capital, and is framed by teak forests and mountains. 
National Parks : Increasing numbers of visitors now come to Chiang Mai in search of the natural environment preserved a famous national parks. Famous national park in Chiang Mai is Doi Inthanon,the highest mountain in Thailand. In most cases, you will find easy access and bungalow accommodation for overnight stays.

 

food
Kantoke Dinner Kantoke Dinner....It is also possible to sample Northen dishes at one of the "Kantoke Dinner" in Chiang Mai. At this event, visitors are seated on the floor around a circular tray with Northen dishes on it and eat while watching traditional Thai and Northen dances and hilltribe culture shows. Kantoke Dinner provide a good way to get to know both the Northen food and culture at the.same time. 

Khaosoi...First sampled this for Chiang Mai's food.mNoodles in curry gravy with hot, sweet and lemon taste.
Nam Prik Ong....Food eaten with vegetables, pork cracklings or deep-fried crunchy rice cakes, this can also be served with plain white rice as a meat dish.

 
shopping

When speaking of shopping in Chiang Mai, one must consider, along with the everyday necessities, the many handicrafts that are part of the city's history. Made with workmanship skill that have been passed down from generation to generation, these beautiful crafts are a good representation of Chiang Mai's proud Lanna heritage.
Bor Sang and Sankampaeng Area (Highway 1006)
This road serves as the location to the largest amount and the most popular of handicraft factories . and shops in Chiang Mai. It begins at the Chiang Mai - Bor SangSankampaeng intersection and continues to the Sankampaeng district at k.m. 13. It is lined on both sides by showrooms and factories where you have the opportunity to observe the production of crafts, as well as purchase them. Thai silk, cotton, lacquerware, ceramics, leather products, silverware, umbrellas, woodwork, jewelry, and antiques can all be found along this road. 

Due to the increased shortage of antiques, artists have turned to creating replicas of old antiques which portray the same beauty and characteristics as the genuine ones. There is no attempt to pass off these neo-antiques as genuine. The famous Bor Sang Village, which sells umbrellas and woodcarvings, is also located on this road.

Umbrellas made of sa paper, hilltribe crafts with bold colors,fabrics of countless types, delicate ceramics, replicated and genuine antiques, dazzling jewelry and gems, silverware of all sorts, lacquerware with intricate designs, rattan and wickerwork, andUmbrellas woodcarvings ranging from pictures to furniture are only a part of the long list of crafts and arts that help to make Chiang Mai special. Each individual piece of workmanship requires paints taking attention to detail and design in the process of its creation. Owning one of Chiang Mai's tradition crafts is a sure way to take back tangible memories of your visit to Chiang Mai.Whatever it is you are looking for-be it a keychain or Thai silk - Chiang Mai offers the shopping facillities for you to find a buy that you will be pleased with.

Cottons & Silks first-class Chiang Mai cottons and silks are of incomparable quality. Cottons and silkshave innumerable fashion and furnishing applications. The largest possible selection is available in San Kamphaneg.

Furniture/Woodcarving Chiang Mai is a major centre of furniture making. Major Furniture/Woodcarving woods and materials include teak, rosewood and rattan. Items may be unadorned or, especially with teak and rosewood, artfully carved in traditional or modern designs. Woodcarving is a traditional northern Thai art featured in numerous temples. In recent years, wood carving has increasingly embellished furniture, gracing screens, chairs, tables, beds, indeed anything bearing a wooden surface large enough to be carved. Carved elephants, figurines and tableware number among other popular purchases.

Lacquerware striking black and gold designs give Lacquerware its visual appeal and sheen. This decorative art enhances items made of wood, bamboo, metal, paper and baked clay, in the form of receptacles, ornaments and various souvenirs.

Night Bazaar
Night BazaarThe Night Bazaar on Chang Klan Rd. is probably the largest center for the selling of all sorts of crafts in ChiangMai. A good place to shop if you are pressed for time-the selection is astounding! The Night Bazaar originated as a three story building, and later expanded to be the busy mosaic of department stores, shops, and vendors that it is today. 

Markets
Visiting one of Chiang Mai's markets is a good way to observe the local Thai people, as well as get to know them. It is also an excellent place to improve your bargaining skills. Chiang Mai markets are one of a kind, and quite unlike anything you would expect to find in your home country. You can find almost anything at these ld style markets which sell everything from spices to fresh meat. There are several of these markets in Chiang Mai, including the Ton Lamyai, the Warorot, which is famous for its variety of preserved fruits; the Sanpakoi, and the Chiang Mai Gate markets. 

Hang Dong Area 
This area begins at the Chiang Mai-Hang Dong intersection, and continues until the k.m. 15 post marker. This area is best known for its many antique shops. There are also wood carving, lacquerware, ceramic, silver, and bamboo craft stores along this route. In addition, on k.m. 15 of this road, lies Tawai Village, which is famous for its woodwork. It is a good place to observe carvings and neo-antiques being made, as well as being sold at cheap, wholesale prices.

Wualai Road 
This road is famous for being home to generations of silversmiths. It is here that much silverware is produced and sent to shops all over the city to be sold. If you are in Wualai Roadsearch of high quality, Chiang Mai style silverware with expert workmanship, then this is the place to visit. In addition to silver, there is also lacquerware, antiques, ceramics, and silk available on this road. 

Villages 
As for those who desire to observe crafts being made in their traditional surroundings, the different craft villages are a good place to visit. Apart from the umbrella villageof BorSang, and the Tawai woodcarving village, there is also the rattan and wickerwork of HongDong, the ceramic village of Muangkung, and the cotton village of Nong Aab Chang and Baan Rai Pai Ngam which specializes in natural dyes. These village also give the opportunity for a good bargain. 

Hilltribe Products
These include silver ornaments, such as bracelets, necklaces, pendants, hairpins and pipes of intricate design, and embroidered items including tunics, jackets, purses, bags, caps and dress lengths. 

Gold Plated Orchids & Butterflies Orchids and butterflies are preserved and plated
with 24-carat gold to create unusual gift items such as necklace pendants, hairpins and earrings. 

Pottery Chiang Mai is the major centre of Thailand's pottery industry. Prized items include high-fired celadon which is produced in many forms, including dinner sets, lamp bases and decorative items. 
 

Everyday Necessities 
Department stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, and most of the streets of Chiang Mai sell the everyday necessities that you need. Most will have anything from shampoo to bread for sale. The prices at these stores are fixed.  



 

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Festival and events