Known as The Rose of the North, and lying some 700 kl from Bangkok, Chiang Mai is the principal city of Northern Thailand and the most popular of the towns in the province for visiting tourists. Best reached by 'plane as the roads are not always in good condition and the truck drivers who use the roads seen to be very accident prone, the city's independent history has helped preserve its distinctive culture.
Founded in 1296 by King Mengrai as the capital of the Lanna Kingdom, the people have retained their unique dialect, customs and cuisine. Their temples are of a distinctive northern Thai architectural style and are adorned with rich decorative details.
It produces exquisite handicrafts in silk, wood, silver and ceramics, so much so that it now rivals Bangkok as a shopping destination for arts and crafts. Adding to the charms of the city are the Hill Tribe villages, the inhabitants of which are distinguished by their colourful costumes and lifestyles.
The temples are worth a visit as is the National Museum, and below are listed a few of the best markets in the city.
Chiang Mai National Museum
On the Lampang Super Highway near Wat Chet Yot, this is a regional centre for the preservation of the art and culture of Chiang Mai and the Lanna Kingdom. Opened in February 1973 the museum has been built in traditional northern architectural style with a Lanna rooftop.
Night Bazaar in Chiang Mai
Right in the heart of the business centre on Chang Khlan Road, this is shopping heaven where handmade products and artefacts from the villages and hill tribe hamlets have an outlet. Textiles and ethnic clothes are reasonably priced.
Sunday Market on Tha Phae Walking Street
From 7.00 pm until midnight, from the Phae Gate through Ratchadamnoen Road, the variety of local products on display and for sale at this market makes it well worth a visit. Both sides of the streets have stalls with reasonably priced goods that attract as many local visitors as tourists.
Ton Kong Market, Chiang Mai
Saturday mornings only, this market specialises in local goods, local delicacies, flowers and decorative plants. Demonstrations of various farming techniques may strike the visitor as odd for a market, but have a charm all of their own as they are usually done by a youth group. It is also possible from here to take a boat trip on the Ping River to view the lifestyles of the river communities.
Mari Nicholson - Award Winning travel writer and historian, member of British Guild of Travel Writers.Travelwriters.co.uk, and Society of Women Writers and ...
