Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep - Chiang Mai / พระธาตุดอยสุเทพ - เชียงใหม่

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep (Thai: วัดพระธาตุดอยสุเทพ) is a Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. The temple is often referred to as "Doi Suthep" although this is actually the name of the mountain it is located on. The temple is located 15 km from the city of Chiang Mai and is a sacred site to many Thai people. From the temple impressive views of Chiang Mai can be seen and it remains a popular destination of foreign visitors.






The original founding of the temple remains a legend and there are a few varied versions. The temple is said to have been founded in 1383 when the first chedi was built.[1] Over time the temple has expanded, and been made to look more extravagant with many more holy shrines added. A road to the temple was first built in 1935.

White Elephant Legend

According to legend, a monk named Sumanathera from Sukhothai had a dream; in this dream god told him to go to Pang Cha and look for a relic. Sumanathera ventured to Pang Cha and is said to have found a bone, which many claim was Buddha's shoulder bone. The relic displayed magical powers; it glowed, it was able to vanish, it could move itself and replicate itself. Sumanathera took the relic to King Dharmmaraja who ruled the Sukhothai.





The eager Dharmmaraja made offerings and hosted a ceremony when Sumanathera arrived. However the relic displayed no abnormal characteristics, and the king, doubtful of the relic's authenticity, told Sumanathera to keep it.

However, King Nu Naone of the Lanna Kingdom heard of the relic and offered the monk to take it to him instead. In 1368 with Dharmmaraja's permission, Sumanathera took the relic to what is now Lamphun, in northern Thailand. The relic apparently split in two, one piece was the same size, the other was smaller than the original. The smaller piece of the relic was enshrined at a temple in Suandok. The other piece was placed by the King on the back of a white elephant which was released in the jungle. The elephant is said to have climbed up Doi Suthep, at the time called Doi Aoy Chang (Sugar Elephant Mountain), trumpeted three times before dying at the site. It was interpreted as a sign and King Nu Naone ordered the construction of a temple at the site.






The wat can be reached by road from Chiang Mai. From the car park, at the temple base visitors can climb 309 steps for free to reach the pagodas or there is a tram.[2] Entry to the temple on the tram costs 30 Thai baht for foreigners (or 50 baht if you would like a two-way tram ticket included)[3] and is free for Thai nationals.

Once inside the temple grounds; visitors must take off their shoes. Visitors must be appropriately dressed. The original copper plated chedi is the most holy area of the temple grounds. Within the site are pagodas, statues, bells and shrines. Aspects of the Wat draw from both Buddhism and Hinduism. There is a model of the Emerald Buddha and a statue of the Hindu God Ganesh. Views of Chiang Mai can be seen on the other side of the temple.





The temple grew and changed in the 600 years since its founding. In particular, it was extensively renovated in the economic "boom" years of the early 1990's. From our admittedly western viewpoint, a lot of the charm has been lost as everything was covered in granite and gold. However, the temple remains an important sight that first-time visitors to Chiang Mai shouldn't miss.





The chedi sits in a rather small courtyard at the very peak of the mountain. The courtyard building sits on a larger plaza containing several buildings as well as a lookout point from which you can see, weather permitting, all of Chiang Mai and the surrounding plain.

Among the buildings on the plaza is a small museum displaying old pieces of temple wares as well as some of the more ancient or unique monetary donations to the temple. Note that before entering the courtyard containing the chedi, you must remove your shoes. You must also be dressed appropriately, although the temple can provide some clothing on loan to cover up your naughty knees and slinky shoulders.

Now for the bad news: To reach the temple itself requires a climb up a naga staircase of 309 steps. For the faint of heart, there's also a funicular cable-car to the top which has just been re-built after several fatal crashes. The fare for the new improved funicular is 20 Baht.

At the base of stairs, where cars and motorcycles park, there is a large market of food stalls, jade factories and endless relentless souvenir sellers.






You can get a songthaew (a small pickup truck with seats along the sides of the covered bed) from the small market area at the corner of Manneenopparat and Chotana Roads, just outside the Changpuak Gate. A round trip, including a visit to the Doi Pui Maeo village, runs around 150 Baht.

Wat Phra That Lampang Luang - Lampang / วัดพระธาตุลำปางหลวง - ลำปาง

About 20 kilometers from Lampang is the old temple of Wat Phra That Lampang Luang. On first glance, this walled citadel sited on a man-made mound of earth has a very fortress-like look to it. That's because the temple was built on the site of an eighth century fortification, called a wiang, that guarded the routes to Lampang.





The temple buildings seen today were built in the fifteenth century, and one of the reasons for the temple's popularity is the relatively pure state of all the temple buildings. Unlike most of the temples in Chiang Mai, Wat Phra That Lampang Luang hasn't been 'improved' to conform to modern Thai ideas about temples. The courtyard is still filled with sand, and the huge main wiharn (prayer hall) is still open on all sides.





To enter the temple, you must pass a pair of guardian lions and climb the naga stairway up to the massive main gate. The main prayer hall, the Wiharn Luang, stands close inside the main entrance. The wiharn is open on all four sides, forming a huge covered hall. Sturdy columns support the roof. The columns are finished in black lacquer and stenciled with gold leaf designs.





At the back of the Wiharn Luang sits a massive gilded ku, a sort of Laotian prang sheltering the main Buddha image. The Buddha image is the Phra Chao Lang Thong, cast in 1563. On either side of the Ku are throne-like pulpits, sometimes used by monks but more often used to house other Buddha images on important ceremonial days.


Behind the main prayer hall stands the 45 meter tall chedi. The chedi was faced with copper and bronze sheets, which over the centuries have oxidized into a variety of green and blue shades. The chedi has somehow escaped the gilding which is now universally applied to chedis, even if they weren't originally built that way.

Flanking the chedi on the south side is another prayer hall, the Wiharn Phra Phut, a small chapel built in 1802 with a beautifully carved fascade. Behind the Wiharn Phar Phut is a tiny tower-like structure, the Ho Phra Phuttabat. It houses a Buddha footprint sculpture. The building is generally only open on important festival dates, and may never be entered by women.






On the other side of the chedi and the main wiharn are two other small open chapels. Although very weathered, both have some rather interesting details and murals.

A doorway on the south side of the gallery leads you to several other buildings, as well as the temple's museum. On the way, you'll pass an ancient bodhi tree whose branches are supported by a forest of crutches.





The two museums are not very interesting, even though one houses the Phra Kaeo Don Tao, a supposed 'copy' of the Emerald Buddha and made at the same time. But it lack most of the subtlety of the Emerald Budda, and the setting doesn't do it justice. For a close-up look at the Emerald Buddha, you're better advised to visit Wat Phra Kaeo in Chiang Rai, where they have a recently made copy in a beautiful setting. However, there is a beautiful 400 year old scripture library in amongst the museums that is worth a look.

Doi Phu Kha - Nan / ดอยภูคา - น่าน

Doi Phuka national park, in Nan province, was designated on 17 June 2000. The park is named after the tallest peak in the park boundaries, Doi Phuka, which sits at 1980 meters (6140 feet) above sea level. It is the northern Thailand's largest national park covering 1,704 square kilometers.






Since the landscape was created under the ocean there are abundance of limestones. Consequently there are limestone caves, waterfalls, and fossils. Rainy season is from May to October, with the peak rainfall in August and September. The cold season (November - February) is the popular season for the visitors.

There are 3 main different forest types. Mixed Decidous forest, Dipterocarp with Oak forest and hill evergreen forest. There is a rare plant called Chompoo Phuka Tree in the park. This tree flowers in the month of February and fruits in the month of May. The flower, white rose in color, bloom in long upright racemes.




There are three main different forest types found within the park. Mixed Decidous forest, Dipterocarp with Oak Forest and Hill Evergreen Forest. Besides, there is also rare plant - Chompoo Phuka Tree. This tree flowers in the month of February and fruits in the month of May. The flower, white rose in color, bloom in long upright racemes.





Mountain view point Doi Phu Ka: A rugged mountain with fantastic scene. The weather out there is cool and there are fogs and clouds all year.






Waterfalls: The tallest waterfall in the park is Phufah waterfall. Fah Shee Nok waterfall, Mae charim Ton Tong waterfall, and many other waterfalls are also worth visiting.




Caves: Many caves are found within the borders of Doi Phuka national park.

Tharn Lod: Local people call it "Nam Ok Roo", which is a natural phenomenon. The water inside a cave in the mountains, flows out across the caves to the outside.

The Ancient Palm (caryota sp.): It is an endangered species. These trees grow well here due to the proper soil properties. These are found on the rocky mountain slopes.


To get to the Doi Phuka national park, take the route Nan - Pau for 60 km. There is a sign mark that will take you along the 25 km turn-off route to the headquarters.

Kwan Phayao Lake - Phayao / กว๊านพะเยา - พะเยา

Covering an area of 2.3 square kilometers and located at an altitude of 380 meters above sea level, Kwan Phayao is one of the largest artificial lakes in entire Northern Thailand.




In fact, this lake is the largest fresh water habitat in the upper northern part of Thailand that provides livelihood for local people of the region. Situated on the southeastern banks of this lake is the beautiful and bustling town of Phayao.

Majority of the water coming into the Kwan Phayao is from the Nam Mae Ing. However, a smaller percentage of water also comes from the Mae Tam. Interestingly, Nam Mae Ing empties itself on the northern side and Mae Tam fills up at the southern end. However, the water inside the lake is never allowed to rise beyond a certain level. Sluice gates are used to control the water level and there is also a spillway so that the mean water depth is always maintained at 1.7 meters. Water from the lake is emptied in the east into the Mekong River via Nam Mae Lag.





Another interesting aspect of this lake is that the pH of the water varies between 6.0 and 9.1, thus making it highly conducive for the growth of almost thirty-six species of aquatic plants and twenty-two species of fish. In fact, Kwan Phayao is considered as the largest semi-natural wetlands in entire northern Thailand. Kwan Phayao Lake is also known to be a preferred destination for resident and migratory birds. Apart from these, the water in the lake is also an important source of municipal water supply.

The main aquatic plants in the lake are Najas graminea and Ceratophyllum demersum. 22 species of fish are recorded for the lake, most dominant are the artificially introduced Nile Tilapia (Tilapia nilolica) and the Climbing Perch (Anabas testudineus). Also 47 bird species were found at the lake in a survey in 1982.





The lake was created in 1939 to improve irrigation in the area. It was added to the list of 61 most important wetland areas on August 1, 2000. There are currently plans to restore the ancient temple Wat Tilok Aram dating back to the end of the 15th century, which was submerged during the construction of the lake.






Present around the lake are some beautiful and picturesque locations, thus making Kwan Phayao a popular weekend destination for the locals of Phayao.

Wat Phrathat Chohae - Phrae / วัดพรธาตุช่อแฮ - แพร่

Phrae is one of the most ancient cities in Thailand , an old establishment having been founded in the same period as Sukhothai and Chiang Mai. The town was built over 800 years ago, allegedly by Thai Kern and Tai Lue people. It is laced with romance and enchants visitors with the famous love legends called "Phra Lor" and "Phu Chana Sibtid". The former name was Wiang Kosai, which means Silk Cloth. This province is quite a prosperous province due to lucrative coal mining and, until recently, logging businesses. The town is popular as a manufacturing centre for rattan furniture and the indigo dyed farmers' shirts which are worn all over Thailand as a symbol of solidarity with rural Thai life.

The province of Phrae may be somewhat off the beaten track, but its undiscovered treasures are well worth noting is the annual Rocket Festival, which marks the beginning of the rice growing season in May.

One of the attractions of Phrae is its eclectic blend of temple architecture. Traditional Lanna architecture, with its multi-tiered roofs, is seen side by side with examples of Burmese and Lao temple architecture.

Phrae has an overall area of 6,538.6 square kilometers, and is administratively divided into 8 Amphoes (Districts) : Amphoe Muang, Rong Kwang, Wang Chin, Song Long, Sung Men, Den Chai and Nongmuang Khai; located 555 kilometers from Bangkok.




Wat Phrathat Chohae is the most famous temple in Phrae. It is located in Muang District on a hill outside of the town, about 9 kms. to the east. It is currently being renovated by the Fine Arts Department. Also of great interest is Wat Phrathat Chorm Jaeng, an ancient temple which is sometimes called "the temple of predawn" and is located on Doi Tong hill, about 12 kms. away from the town center. It is one of the oldest temples in the province and was built in 1331 B.C.




Phrathat Cho Hae , 3The people is located at Tambon Pa Daeng, 9 kms. from Phrae town, and coated with thin Dok Buad gold sheet, having the height of 33 meters, width of each side of the base of 10 meters. The name Cho Hae is derived from a kind of grade satin, woven from Sib Song Panna Kingdom , wrapped around the pagoda by the villagers as an offering. Annual fair worshipping the pagoda takes place on the middle of the fourth lunar month (sixth northern month) of every year.

Wat Rong Khun-Chiang Rai / วัดร่องขุ่น - เชียงราย

Wat Rong Khun (Thai: วัดร่องขุ่น) is a contemporary unconventional buddhist and hindu temple in Chiang Rai, Thailand. It was designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat. Construction began in 1998 and is expected to end in 2008.





Wat Rong Khun is very different to any of temple you are likely to see in Thailand. A lifetime project of artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, the temple has a fine blend of traditional Buddhist art with contemporary themes. The temple is almost entirely white – no other colours are used at all. It is though decorated with small pieces of mirrored glass which add substantially to the temple’s spacious and airy feel. Designed to be viewed in moonlight, if you can manage to get there when the moon is out it’s worth the effort – very nice indeed. This temple is certainly worth a visit unless you have limited time.





Wat Rong Khun is different from any other temple in Thailand, as its ubosot (Pali: uposatha; consecrated assembly hall) is designed in white color with some use of white glass. The white color stands for Lord Buddha’s purity; the white glass stands for Lord Buddha’s wisdom that "shines brightly all over the Earth and the Universe."

The bridge leading to the temple represents the crossing over from the cycle of rebirth to the Abode of Buddha. The small semicircle before the bridge stands for the human world. The big circle with fangs is the mouth of Rahu, meaning impurities in the mind, a representation of hell or suffering.





All the paintings inside the ubosot (assembly hall) have golden tones. The four walls, ceiling and floor contain paintings showing an escape from the defilements of temptation to reach a supramundane state. On the roof, there are four kinds of animals representing earth, water, wind and fire. The elephant stands for the earth; the naga stands for water; the swan's wings represent wind; and the lion’s mane represents fire.

In 1977, Chalermchai Kositpipat volunteered his service to carry out the construction of the ubosot at his own expense as an offering to Lord Buddha, but he later altered the plan as he saw fit in such a way that Wat Rong Khun developed into a prominent site attracting both Thai and foreign visitors.





Nowadays, Wat Rong Khun is still being constructed. When completed, the construction project of Wat Rong Khun will consist of nine buildings: the ubosot, the hall containing Lord Buddha’s relics, the hall containing Buddha images, the preaching hall, the contemplation hall, the monk’s cell, the door façade of the Buddhavasa, the art gallery, and the toilets.

Doi Inthanon - Chiang Mai / ดอยอินทนนท์ - เชียงใหม่

Happiness always glows... every season!
Whichever season it is. If your travelling intention is to be appended within the nature and cool weather, we would like to introduce "Inthanon" ...Lanna Heaven, the Miraculous Recreation for you and your family in the Family Resort & Birding Center ; natural and comfortable lodge in the calm and private surrounding.




Doi Inthanon (Thai: ดอยอินทนนท์) is the highest mountain in Thailand. The mountain was also known in the past as Doi Luang (meaning big mountain) or Doi Ang Ka, meaning the crow's pond top. Near the mountain's base was a pond where many crows gathered. The name Doi Inthanon was given in honour of the king Inthawichayanon, one of the last kings of Chiang Mai, who was concerned about the forests in the north and tried to preserve them. He ordered that after his death his remains shall be placed at Doi Luang, which was then renamed.


Doi Inthanon, is part of a mountain range separating Burma from Thailand also known as Loi Lar Mountain Range or Daen Lao Range. This range, the westernmost of the Shan Highland system, separates the Salween watershed from the Mekong watershed. Other high peaks of the Loi Lar Mountain Range are Doi Luang Chiang Dao (2,175 m), Doi Pui (1,685 m), and Doi Suthep (1,601 m).

In 1954 the forests around Doi Inthanon were preserved as one of the original 14 National parks of Thailand. In 1972 and 1975 its area was increased, so it now covers 482.40 km². The park spreads from the lowlands at 800 m altitude up to the peak in 2565 m, thus covering many climatic and ecological different parts, thus with a total of 362 it has the second highest number of bird species of any national park in Thailand. The park is often called The roof of Thailand.

On the lower slope of Doi Inthanon, near the Karen hill tribe village Ban Sop Had, are the Vachiratharn waterfalls, where the river Vachiratharn tumbles over a granite escarpment.



Various activities for nature lovers.
Apart from pleasure nature and comfortable accomodation, Inthanon is the meeting place for Bird Watcher, exchange various species information with various enjoyable activities for you and your family such as jogging in the morning, bird watching, trekking, bicycling, Camping and bedding in tents as well as other healthy recreation activities.

Pai - Mae Hong Son / ปาย - แม่ฮ่องสอน

Pai, a tiny town halfway between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son





Halfway between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son, the mountain road makes a winding descent into a large green valley carpeted with rice paddies and fruit groves. Mountains rise on all sides and butterflies flit along the streets. Here you'll find a tiny town called Pai, named after the river that runs through the valley.

Pai, a speck of a place with main roads (all four of them) offers you a rich bohemian atmosphere where you can collect your thoughts and commune with nature.
In Pai, every day is a lazy Sunday. And if you're ready for it, Pai offers you a wide palet of activities. Never a dull moment...











Outdoor Activities in Pai



The Pai River itself is one of the main attractions here. Outfitters organize rafting adventures on some pretty raucous rapids from July to January. Trekking is also popular, with 2- and 3-day treks to Karen, Lahu, and Lisu villages. See also Wikipedia for more info about nature, culture, hilltribes etc. around Pai. The adventurous can find a local map for self-guided hikes to nearby waterfalls and caves, but quite a few wayfarers just lounge in town living simply and enjoying the nightlife.


Hilltribes - Longnecks



Longnecks


The tribe of the "Long Neck Women"
The tribe of the "Long Neck " and "Long Ears" Women.
There are three Padung villages and all the three are near the Burmese border, not far from the city of Mae Hong Son.

The villages are
Huei Sua Tao
Na Soi
Nam Pieng Din

You can fly from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son, see one or two villages and fly back on the same day. It is not recommended !!! You better stay at least 3 days in this one of the most beautiful provinces of Thailand - Mae Hong Son. There is much to see in and around the provincial city.

The Padung are a sub-group of Karen (Bwe Group) living in Kayah state of eastern Burma on the Thailand border. Their numbor is less than 40,000 people. The Padung call themselves "Lae Kur" or "Kayan". They have their own language belongs to the Kenmic group in the Tibeto-Burman language family.

The Karen themseves are not one homogeneous group but rather a loose confederation of heterogeneous and closely related tribes. Among the smallest Karen tribes in Thailand are the Karen Padaung.

In Thailand, only a few families of Padaung have settled temporarily as refugees in Muang District of Mae Hong Son Province, living among other hilltribes groups, mostly Karen, and being the one of the main reasons for visiting tourists to that area.

The Padung escape from the Kaya State in Burma to Thailand in this century and are actually refugees of a political turmoil. They belong to the Karenni sub-group of the Karen People, which are still fighting for their independence in Burma.

The Karen-Padung occupied central Burma before the Burmese arrived from the North and they, together with the ancient Mon, farmed the Irrawaddy and Salween Valleys and built civilizations based on their unique cultures.

The Padung women are putting brass rings around their necks. This distorts the growth of their collarbones and make them look as if they have long necks - which they don't. This row of brass rings do not actually stretch their necks but in fact squash the vertebrae and collar bones. A woman generally has about twenty or more rings around her neck. This neck ring adornment is started when the girls are 5 or 6 years old.

The rings on the arms and the legs are not quite as prominent as those on the neck simply because the neck rings are so pronounced. However, these rings are just as important. The rings on the arms are worn on the forearm from the wrist to the elbow. Those on the legs are worn from the ankles to the knees, and cloth coverings are kept over most of these rings, from the shins down to the ankles.

Other Karen-Padung tribes reside in Phrae Province, and Baan Tha Ton in far north Chiang Mai province [close to Aka's Guest Home 14 km from Baan Tha Ton]. The Karen-Padung in Phrae live in the Wang shin District, in Mae Sin Village, Kang Jai Village and Mae Pong Village. These are in the vicinity of KM 75 on the Phrae-Wangchin Road. The women of. these Karen tribes display their beauty, and their status as married women, by wearing carved elephant tusk in their ears. When a woman is married, her ears are pierced and an elephant tusk of one to four centimeters in length is inserted.

During the early stages the ear pieces are quite small, especially for younger women. The weight of the tusks gradually weighs down on the ear lobe and the ear gets larger and larger, and longer and longer. Then larger tusks are inserted and the process repeats itself until the woman's ears become extremely elongated and floppy. The married woman wears these ear pieces for life.

The tradition of these Karen - Padung who are sometimes referred to as the "Long-Ears" is one of the oldest of peoples in this part of the world. Long before any of the present day territories were formed by boundaries into nations or countries, the peoples of Southeast Asia, particularly mountain dwellers, practiced a custom known as "Loaded Ears". According to this custom, the ears, being one of the most sacred parts of the body, were an important object of adornment. For beauty in the women and for strength in the men, the ears of both sexes were loaded. Today, among the Karen-Padaung of Phrae and of Burma, this tradition is continued for the female gender only, once married.

Unmarried girls in these tribes do not wear the ear pieces, but they do wear white dresses, in contrast to the red and black dresses worn by the married women, and on the backs of their hands a few magical words are written in spiritual languages. These words carry meaning to bless these girls to have a happy life.

Most of Padung are animists, but about 10 percent are Buddhists. Now, the number of Christians is increasing because of the Roman Catholic mission. The annual festival for the fertility and prosperity of the whole community is usually held at the beginning of the rainy season. Sacrifices are made to the spirits for good health and bountiful harvests. Rice is the Padung main crop.