Doi Ang Khang - Chiang Mai - ดอยอ่างขาง - เชียงใหม่

The following is a list of mountains in Thailand. The altitudes are in metres. For the names of the mountains in the Roman script the Royal Thai General System of Transcription has been adopted.






Many mountains in the country are not important because of their height, but because of their symbolic and cultural significance. Some mountains have Buddhist worship places on top, like Doi Suthep close to Chiang Mai, while others have been adopted as provincial symbol, like relatively small Khao Sam Muk in Chonburi Province. Nevertheless, since the order of height is convenient, the list follows this order, without in any way intending to diminish or promote the importance of any particular mountain.







The Angkhang Nature Resort is the ideal base from which to explore the area. Visit the local hilltribes and the Royal Agricultural Project. Take a mule-ride up the hillside or for the more energetic hire a mountain bike to go exploring.

There are many walking trails around the resort. Nature lovers will notice many rare species of plant and birds in the surrounding countryside.





This remote mountainous region is located in upnorth Chiangmai. The vast area extends to the border of Myanmar and was once covered with hill evergreen forests. The heavy demand of cultivating land had led to the heavy deforestation and turned the dense woods to fruitlands and paddyfields. However, the natural altitudinal terrain of its 1,928 meter peak and the mingled biosphere of the remaining forests with deformed fruitlands has made Doi Ang Khang home of a myriad of resident and migrated birds. Birders from abroad seldom miss the chance to get there as the weather on the Doi (mountain) is pleasantly cool all year around and there are many superb birding trails.








Hume's Pheasant, Rufous-winged Buzzard, Black Eagle, Mountain Bamboo-Partridge, Golden-throated Barbet, Crimson-breasted Woodpecker, Bay Woodpecker, Rusty-naped Pitta, Short-billed Minivet, Long-tailed Minivet, Crested Finchbill Bulbul, Marron Oriole, Fire-capped Tit, Giant Nuthatch, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler, Red-tailed Laughingthrush, Red-faced Liocichla, Spot-breasted Parrotbill, Daurian Redstart, Rufous-gorgetted Flycatcher, Slaty-blue Flycatcher, Black-headed Greenfinch, Little Bunting, Chestnut Bunting, etc.






During the winter, tourists like to travel to the Chaing Mai Province to camp and enjoy the blooming winter plants. Doi Ang Khang standing 1,900 meters above sea level, borders Burma and is located in Amphoe Chai Prakan.






The Road to Doi Ang Khang: While driving to Doi Ang Khang, you will see many multihued flowers adorning the roadside. However, the road here is steep and winding, so viewing should be left to the passengers.








The Doi Ang Khang Royal Project: The Doi Ang Khang Royal Project is an agricultural station where they study horticulture. Here, in this fifty Rais (80,000 square meters) area, you will be able to see a vast array of indigenous and foreign plants.







The San KiewLom Viewpoint: From this viewpoint, you can overlook an ocean of fog in the morning, while the afternoons bring visions of villages and life below.








The Border Village: Three kilometers from the viewpoint is the Border Village. Here you can see the hill tribe people.

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.