guidebook chiangrai thailand

8/9/2019 GuideBook ChiangRai Thailand

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Welcome to Chiang Rai

Population 1,310,256

Currency Exchange 1 US$ =32.5 Baht (On 1 Jun'08)

Population 1,310,256

Currency Exchange 1 US$ =32.5 Baht (On 1 Jun'08)

Chiang Rai, the most northern Province in Thailand, is one of the country's most rural areas. Half of itsnorthern border, separating the province and nation from Laos, is formed by the Mekong River.Mountains form the other half, cleaving Myanmar from Thailand, with the junction of Nam Ruak (RuakRiver) and Mekong floodplains to the east support most of the agriculture in the province; to the west

the land is too mountainous for most crops. One crop that thrives on steep mountain slopes is opiumand until recently Chiang Rai was the centre for most of the opium in Thailand.

The province is rich in tourism resources in term of natural attractions and antiquities, evidence of itspast civilization. It is also home to several hill tribes who lead quite a fascinating ways of life. ChiangRai is also a tourism gateway into Myanmar and Laos.

Emergency CallsPolice & Emergency : 191Tourist Police station : 053 717 779

City Police : 053 711 444Tourist Police : 1155International Airport : 053 793 048-57Tourism Authority of Thailand : 053 744 674-5, 053 717 433Lost or stolen credit cards : American Express : 02 273 0022-44

Master Card : 02 299 1990-2Visa : 02 299 1990-2

Internet Resourceshttp://www.chiangrai.comhttp://www.e-chiangrai.com

Travel Agents Konthaitours

Tel : 053 218 661 , 053 412 859

http://www.konthaitours.com Sunny Sanaey Travel

Tel : 053 752 368http://www.sunnysanaey.com

PaewtravelTel : 053 242 297http://www.paewtravel.com

Festivals Day Tripping Eating Sleeping Getting Around

FestivalsSongkran Festival TraditionalThai New year celebrations are best seen at Chiang Saen where 4 nations (Thailand,

Laos, China and Myanmar) compete in boat races on the Mekong River. Beauty contests

and cultural shows are added attractions. The festival is annually held from April 16-18.

Mekong River International Multi-sport ChampionshipParticipate in the triathlon races on the longest river in Southeast Asia. Partake in the

organized trip "Gateway to Indochina". Enjoy the food festival and beautiful cultural shows.


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Lychee Fair (In May 2008)Chiang Rai is famous for its tasty lychees. Therefore, this fair is the ideal opportunity to enjoy this fruit. And certainly, you can buy as

many as you would like at very reasonable prices. Of course, local entertainment and beauty contests will be performed to add colour to

the fair. Many beautiful handicrafts are also available for purchase.

Strawberry FairStrawberry is one of Chiang Rai's cash crops. A major growing area is Mae Sai. In the cold season around early February when

strawberries and other temperate fruits are plentiful, planters hold a festival to show off their produce.

Blooming Bua-Tong FestivalNovember is the time of tiny yellow wild sunflowers locally called "bua-tong". They cover vast areas on Doi Hua Mae Kham along the Thai-

Myanmar borders in Mae Fa Luang. The tiny blooms turn the entire mountain range into a golden heaven amidst loitering white fog,

making it a magnificent view.

Day Tripping

Wat Phra Kaew

Originally called Wat Pa Yai (Bamboo Forest Monastery) in localdialect, this is the city's most revered Buddhist temple. Legend

says that in 1434 lightning struck the temple's octagonal chedi,

which fell apart to reveal the Phra Kaew Morakot or Emerald

Buddha (actually made of jade). After a long journey that

included a long stopover in Vientiane, Laos, this national

talisman is now ensconced in the temple of the same name is

Bangkok.

Wat Jet YotThe namesake for this wat is a seven-spire chedi similar to that

in Chiang Mai's Wat Jet Yot, but without stucco ornamentation.

Of more aesthetic interest is the wooden ceiling of the front

veranda of the main Wihaan, which features a unique Thai

astrological fresco.

Wat Phra SinghHousing yet another copy of a famous Buddha image, this

temple was built in the late 14th century during the reign of

Chiang Rai's King Kahaphrom. A sister temple to Chiang Mai's

Wat Phra Singh, its original buildings are typical northern Thai-

style wood structures with low, sweeping roofs. The impressive

dragon carved gate looks to be of Thai Lu design. The main

wihaan houses a copy of Chiang Mai's Phra Singh Buddha.

Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong

This hilltop wat northwest of Wat Phra Kaew has partial views of the river and gets an occasional river breeze. The Lanna-style

chedi here was supposedly built in 940, impossible since Lanna

hadn't yet been founded. Most likely it dates from the 14th to

16th centuries, and may cover an earlier Mon chedi inside. King

Mengrai, Chiang Rai's founder, first surveyed the site for the city

from this peak.

Wat Jet YotWat Phra Kaew

Wat Phra Singh


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Tham Tu PuIf you follow Winitchaikul Rd. across the bridge to the northern

side of Mae Nam Kok, you'll come to a turn-off for Tham Tu Pu,

800m from the river. Follow the road 1 km, then follow a dirt

path 200m to the base of a limestone cliff where there is a monk

and his collection of dogs. Here, you'll find a steep set of stairs

leading up to one of the main chambers.

Rafting Along the Mae Kok River

This 130-km river is well known as one of the most picturesqueand clean rivers in Thailand. Rafting along the waterway is a very

relaxing activity because tourists can see hill tribe villages

situated along the banks. Lush jungles and mountain cliffs

create scenic views and a fresh atmosphere. It takes 3 days and

2 nights to cover the 80-km distance by raft from Tha Ton of

Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai town. River trips to and from Chiang

Rai by long-tail boats are also organized regularly. The trip takes

about 4-5 hrs.

GuideBook 3

Sop RuakThe borders of Myanmar, Thailand and Laos meet 9km north of

Chiang Saen at Sop Ruak, the official 'centre' of the Golden

Triangle, at the confluence of Nam Ruak and the Mekong River.

In historical terms, 'Golden Triangle' actually refers to a much

larger geographic area, stretching thousands of square

kilometers into Myanmar, Laos and Thailand, within which the

opium trade is prevalent. Nevertheless hoteliers and tour

operators have been quick to cash in on the name by referring to

the tiny village of Sop Ruak as 'the Golden Triangle', conjuring up

images of illicit adventure even though the adventure quotient

here is close to zero. In northern Thai this village is pronounced

'Sop Huak'; many out-of-town Thais don't know either Thai name

and simply call it 'Sam Liam Thong Kham' (saam liam thawng

kham; Thai for 'Gold Triangle')

Rafting Along the Mae Kok RiverWat Rong Khun

Wat Rong KhunThirteen kilometers south of Chiang Rai is the unusual and

popular Wat Rong Khun. A gallery sells reproductions of

Chalemchai Kositpipat's rather New Age-looking works.

Pick up an entertaining free leaflet where the artist describes his

aims and achievements in a simultaneously humble and self-

aggrandizing way. Londoners may recognize his style from the

Wat Buddhapadipa in Wimbledon, where his students did the

mural paintings.

To get to the temple, hop on one of the regular buses that run

from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai and ask to get off at Wat Rong

Khun (15 THB.)

Tel : 053 673 579

Mae Salong (Santikhiri)Aside from Bangkok's Amphoe Yaowarat, Mae Salong is

Thailand's most China-like community. The atmosphere here is

reminiscent of a small Chinese mountain village. The

combination of pack horses, a mainly Yunnanese population, hill

tribes (Akha, Lahu, Shan, Mien), red lanterns decorating shops,

and southern Chinese-style houses conjure up images of a small

town or village in southern China's Yunnan Province.

Chiang KhongAt one time, Chiang Khong was part of a small river-bank

mueang (city-state) called Juon, founded in AD 701 by KingMahathai. Over the centuries Juon paid tribute to Chiang Rai,

then Chiang Saen and finally Nan before being occupied by the

Siamese in the 1880s. The territory of Chiang Khong extended

all the way to Yunnan Province in China until the French turned

much of the Mekong River's northern bank into French Indochina

in 1893.

Tham Pum & Tham PlaOnly 13 km south of Mae Sai, just off Route 110 at Ban Tham,

these two caves have freshwater lakes inside. Bring a torch to

explore the caves, as there are no lights. Another attraction here

is the unique cake like chedi in front of the cave entrance. It's a

very large, multi-tiered structure stylistically different from any

other in Thailand.

There is a police checkpoint at Ban Tham so brig some ID. To get

here either rent a motorbike or charter a sawngthaew to the

turn-off on Route 110 at Ban Tham; from there it is a 1km walk

down to the caves.

Elephant Riding& TrekkingRiding on elephant's

back is one of the

exciting activities you

should not miss

because you will

not only taste the

adventurous ride but

also have a good

opportunity to explore

the jungle. For more

information please

contact your travelagency.


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Doi TungAbout halfway between Mae Chan and Mae Sai is the west turn-

off for Doi Tung. The name means 'Flag Peak', from the northern

Thai word for flag (tung). King Achutarat of Chiang Saen ordered

a giant flag to be flow from the peak to mark the spot where two

chedi are still there, a pilgrimage site for Thai, Shan and Chinese

Buddhists.

But the main attraction at Doi Tung is getting there. The 'easy'

way is via Route 1149, which is mostly paved to the peak of Doi

Tung. But it's winding, steep and narrow, so if you're driving orriding a motorcycle, take it slowly.

For Doi Tung take a bus to Ban Huay Khrai (15 THB.), then a sawngthaew to

Doi Tung (60 THB./one hour)

Chiang TungIt's a bit over halfway between the Thai and Chinese borders.

Built around a small lake and dotted with ageing Buddhist

temples and crumbling British colonial architecture, it's a much

more scenic town than Tachilek and one of the most interesting

towns in Myanmar's entire Shan State. About 70% of all foreign

visitors are Thais seeking a glimpse of ancient Lanna.

Chiang SaenA sleepy crossroads town on the banks of the Mekong River,

Chiang Saen was once the site of an important northern Thai

kingdom. Scattered throughout the town today are the ruins of

the 14th -century Chiang Saen kingdom - surviving architecture

includes several chedi, Buddha images, wihaan pillars and

earthen city ramparts. A few of the old monuments still standing

predate Chiang Saen by a couple of hundred years; legend says

this pre-Chiang Saen kingdom was called Yonok.

Mae Khong River TripsBoats from China, Laos and Myanmar can be seen unloading

their cargoes in the mornings at a boat landing near the customs

station stand on the Chiang Saen waterfront.

Six-passenger speedboats jet to Sop Ruak (per boat one way/return 500 -600 THB. for 50 mins) or Chiang Khong (per boat one way/return 3,000 -

3,500 THB. for two hrs.).

EatingAye's Restaurant - 869/170 Phahoyothin Rd.

Tel : 053 722 534

Open Daily : 7.30 am. - 12.00 pm.

C&C (Cabbages and Condoms) - 620/25 Thanalai Rd. Mueang

Tel : 053 719 167

Old Siam - 541/2 Phahoyothin Rd.

Tel : 053 714 282

Open Daily : 8.00 am. - 12.00 pm.

The Old Dutch - 541 Phahonyothin Rd.

Open Daily : 8.00 am. - 12.00 pm.

Da Vinci - 879/4-5 Phahonyothin Rd. This slightly pricey, smart

Italian restaurant.

Tel : 053 752 535

Open Daily : 12.00 am - 11.00 pm.

La Antina - 528/20 Banphaprakan Rd.

Tel : 053 716 808

Yunan - 211/9 Khwae Wai Rd. Mueang

Tel : 053 713 263

Chiang Rai Island - Dusit Island Resort, Mueang

Tel : 053 715 345

Tham LuangAbout 6 km south of Mae Sai off Route 110, this large cave

extends into the hills for at least a couple of kilometers, possibly

more. The first cavern is huge, and a narrow passage at the back

leads to a series of other chambers and side tunnels of varying

sizes. The first kilometer is fairly easy-going, but after that you

have to do some climbing over piles of rocks to get further in. At

this point the roof formations become more fantastic and tiny

crystals make them change colour according to the angle of the

light. For 40 THB. you can borrow a gas lantern from the

caretakers in front of the cave or you can take someone along as

a guide (for which there's no fixed fee; just give them whatever

you feel they deserve). Apparently, guides sometimes have better

things to do during the week. Charter a sawngthaew or rent a

bike in Mae Sai to get to Tham Luang.

Tham Luang

Phuchifa

The Gold Triangle


5/5GuideBook 5

Getting Around

Saamlaw (three-wheeled pedicab) ride anywhere in centralChiang Rai should cost around 30THB.

Tuk-Tuk often charged twice that. Shared sawngthaew costs

15 THB. per person.

Bicycles and Motorcycles - Banphaprakan Rd. and Wat Jet Yot Rd.

Tel : 053 713 652 (per day bicycles 60-100 THB., motorcycles

150-700 THB.)

Budget Rent-A-Car - 590 Phahonyothin Rd. at Golden Triangle Inn.

Tel : 053 740 442-3

http://www.budget.co.th

National Car Rental at Chiang Rai Airport

Tel : 053 793 683

Midrange & Top End

Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa

Tel : 053 784 084

http://www.anantara.com (r 9,164 - 12,219 THB.)

Doihomfha Resort - 23 Moo 9 Baan Paming Patung

Tel : 053 914 999

http://www.doihomfharesort.com (r 6,500 - 12,000 THB.)

Lanula Hotel & Resort - 160 Moo 14 Sanambin Rd. Mueang

Tel : 087 910 5620

http://www.lalunaresortchiangrai.com (r 1,700 - 3,500 THB.)

Mantrini - 292 Moo 13 Robwiang Mueang

Tel : 053 601 555-9

http://www.mantrini.com

Phu Chai Sai Resort - 388 Moo 4 Ban Mae Salong Nai Mae ChanTel : 053 918 636 -7

http://www.phu-chaisai.com (r 4,000 - 12,000 THB.)

Wianginn - 893 Phaholyothin Rd.

Tel. 053 711 533

http://www.wianginn.com (r 1,800 - 9,000 THB.)

Sleeping

Budget

Akha River House - 423/25 Moo 21 Kohloy Rd. Behind the TAT

office on the Mae Nam Kok

Tel : 053 715 084 (r 100 - 300 THB.)

www.akha.info , www.akhahill.com

Boonbundan Guest House - Jet Yot Rd.

Tel : 053 752 413-4 (r 170 - 500 THB.)

Chat House - Soi Saengkaew Trairat Rd.

Tel : 053 711 481 (r 80 - 300 THB.)

www.chathouse32.com

Chomchan Resort - 196 Moo 2 Mae Jan

Tel : 053 653 447, 053 653 456 (r 800 THB.)

Mae Sai Guest House - 688 Wieng-pangkam Rd. There is a

riverside restaurant on site serving Thai and Western dishes.

Tel : 053 732 021 (r 100 - 500 THB.)

Namchong-garden - 477 Moo 7 Bannangleenai

Tel : 053 706 343 (r 500 - 1,500 THB.)

http://www.namchong-garden.com

PS Guesthouse - 82/2 Kohloy Rd. Near Akha River House this is

new guesthouse.

Tel : 053 600 470, 053 744 521 (r 250 - 450 THB.)

Top North Hotel - 306 Phahonyothin Rd. A five-minute walk to

the bridge to Myanmar.

Tel : 053 731 955 (r 400 - 900 THB)

Yee Sun Hotel - 816/13 Sailomjoi Rd. This new,

11-room, a view of the river.

Tel : 053 733 455 (r 600 THB.)

Chat House

Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa Lanula Hotel & Resort Mantrini

Namchong-garden

Photos by www.hflight.netContent by

guidebook chiangrai thailand

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