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10 Best Things To Do In Chiang Mai

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Chiang Mai is a mountainous region in Northern Thailand. Located around 700 km from Bangkok. Some of the best things to do in Chiang Mai are as follows:

 

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repost from @bhuyanrituraj In the mountains of Northern Thailand in Chiang Mai!

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One of the best things to do in Chiang Mai is to visit Doi Suthep.

1. Visit Doi Suthep

Some of the nicest views of Chiang Mai are seen from Doi Suthep. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is one of the holy Buddhist sites in Thailand. The temple is adorned with a chedi which is gold plated from top to bottom. The temple is a major destination during Makha Bucha and Visakha Bucha days.

The best things to do in Chiang Mai include visiting its temples Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Suan Dok, Wat Phra Singh, Wat Umong and more.

2. Visit  City Temples

Wat Chedi Luang

Wat Chedi Luang, built during the 13th century was once the home of the Emerald Buddha, Thailand’s most important Buddhist relic. Over the course of time, Wat Chedi Luang has undergone a lot of changes due to environmental factors and efforts have been made to restore some of its ancient structures.

Wat Suan Dok

Wat Suan Dok, built during the 14th century is a garden of whitewashed pagodas. Next to the garden is a principal pagoda which is set on a raised base.  The evening views of this temple are stunning and if you want to have some good photography you need to visit this temple.

Wat Phra Singh

Wat Phra Singh is a wonderful example of Lanna temple architecture.  Besides the main viharn, there is a Buddha image which is made of gold and copper.

Wat Umong

Located at the Doi Pui mountain, Wat Umong is a forest temple located in Chiang Mai. There are many enclaves with Buddha statues that date back to the 14th century.



Wat Phra That Doi Kham

Wat Phra That Doi Kham is a temple with a scenic view. This temple is mainly visited by Thai’s who come to visit the 17-meter tall image of the Buddha.

Wat Sri Suphan

Wat Sri Suphan is a silver temple located in Chiang Mai. You can find that the monks chat during three days of the week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) mostly during the evening.

Wat Chiang Man

Wat Chiang Man holds some of the important Buddha images in Thailand including the crystal image.

During my stay in Chiang Mai, I visited each and every temple with my tour guide. Praying at the temples was indeed a lovely spiritual experience.



Other than the above-mentioned things, top things to do in Chiang Mai include a visit to elephant jungle sanctuary, visit Doi Inthanon, visit Karen Long Neck Tribe village, and visit the Lanna folk life museum.

3. Visit Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, Chiang Mai

The elephant jungle sanctuary is one of the elephant attractions in Thailand which prioritize on elephant well-being rather than elephant tourism. The sanctuary allows for careful interaction between elephants and humans.

Often operated in partnership with Karen hill tribes and locals from Chiang Mai, the sanctuary is a paragon of responsible tourism.

You can choose between full day and half day tours. While full-day tours can cost you around 2400 baht, half day tours will cost you around 1700 baht. As you are expected to spend the entire day on the tours you are advised to bring hats, sunscreen, towel, and change clothes.

4. Visit Doi Inthanon

The highest peak in entire Thailand, Doi Inthanon rises 2500 above sea level. This altitude means the temperatures are cool year round and often goes below zero from October to February.

Doi Inthanon national park is a true jewel of national beauty consisting of rugged mountain ranges, mighty rivers, and majestic waterfalls. The diversity of Doi Inthanon extends further than animals and bird species. This park has large settlements of Northern Hill Tribes as well.

5. Visit Karen Long Neck Tribe

The Karen hill tribe is one of the largest of all the 20 hill tribes whose population exceeds more than 7 million today. Most villages are remote from Thai civilization.

Most villagers use houses made of teak or bamboo. The Karen women are best recognized for their elongated necks and the heavy brass rings around their necks. ( Read more about Karen Long Neck Villages In Thailand )

6. Visit Lanna Folk Life Museum

The Lanna Folk Life is an interesting exhibit on the Lanna people of northern Thailand. The Lanna Heritage Center building sits inside the municipal court of Chiang Mai.

Enjoying the festivals ( Loi Krathong, Yi Peng, Songkran ) is one of the coolest things to do in Chiang Mai.

7. Enjoy the festivals in Chiang Mai

Loi Krathong

Loi in Thai means to float and Krathong means a small raft. During the Loi Krathong festival, the Thai ‘s decorate Krathong with candles, flowers and incense sticks.

Yi Peng Festival

In the month of November every year, the Yi Peng festival is celebrated. The breath-taking view of lanterns released into the sky all over Chiang Mai is an iconic image.

The significance behind releasing of lanterns is the letting go of negative emotions, ills an misfortunes of the previous year.

Songkran Festival

If you plan to visit Chiang Mai during this time (13th -15th April ) you will definitely have great fun. 




However, be a little careful as Songkran (Songkran festival in Bangkok) time is prone to road accidents. People get little crazy during this time as the world biggest water fight gives an elevated sense of happiness that some people have never experienced before in their entire life.

Therefore, one needs to be a bit alert during this time. There may be other things to do in Chiang Mai but the above ones are one of the best.

8. Enjoy the cool cafes

9. Visit Art In Paradise 3D Museum

10. Buy gifts for your loved ones

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