Chiang Mai Culture

When people mention the word "Thailand", Bangkok immediately comes to mind, with its numerous tourist spots, exotic food stalls and flea markets.

However, if one really wants to experience real Thai culture then Chiang Mai can offer you just that and more.

Chiang Mai (which also goes by the name "Chiengmai") is Thailand's second largest city. 800 kilometers away from Bangkok, Chiang Mai rises above the Ping River, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya River.

Unlike Bangkok which boasts an atmosphere of flashy modernism, Chiang Mai takes pride in its rich cultural background.

Religious Heritage

Chiang Mai offers a good number of cultural spots for the visitor. The city's religious heritage, for one thing, is easily seen through the vast amount of Buddhist temples (called "wats") around Chiang Mai, which numbers to over 300.

The most famous temple in Chiang Mai is the Doi Suthep, which was built in 1383. What makes this temple famous is the story that goes with it.

According to legend, the site of the Doi Suthep was chosen by making use of an elephant with a relic of the Buddha placed on its back.

The builders let the elephant roam until it encountered a specific spot where it blew its horn and subsequently laid down. Doi Suthep was built on the exact place that the elephant, through Buddha, had chosen.

Cultural Festivals

Many visitors plan their trip to Chiang Mai just to coincide with some of the city's fantastic festivals. Songkran, held in April, is the highlight of the year (welcoming in the Thai New Year), with four days of traditional celebration taking place everywhere in Chiang Mai. Buddhist rituals, eating, drinking, dressing-up and throwing huge amounts of water on each other is what the festivities here are all about - creating an unforgettable and fun-filled experience for all.

Other colourful Thai festivals, which take place in Chiang Mai include the Loi Kratong (in worship of the Goddess of Water), and the famous Flower Festival, a three-day event held in February.

Hill Tribes

For a glimpse of Thai culture through its indigenous people, local Chiang Mai tour companies offer hill-tribe trekking, wherein travelers have the option to explore the villages and environs resting in Chiang Mai's hills on foot or by traditional means of transport- elephant!

Here you'll find the Hmong, Lisu, Yao akha, Lawa and Karen hill tribes, as well as the strange long-necked women of the Paduang tribe further up North. These mountain people have distinct costumes, dialects, customs and rituals, but all share a common belief in the spirits of the forest and animals.

If trekking isn't your style, you can still learn about these interesting people by visiting the exhibit at the Hilltribe Museum in the city's Chotana Road.