3-Day Ancient Sites Tour of Chiang Mai, the Rose of the North in Thailand

Written/Compiled and Reported by Liu Jiawen | Source: Mona Lisa Editorial Department

In Thai, Chiang Mai originally means "new city" and was formerly known as the Rose of the North. It can be considered the most important city in northern Thailand and was historically one of the four great dynasties of the country. The city is surrounded by mountains on three sides. In its early days, due to the abundant production of timber from the forests, it became a major producer of Thai wood carvings and bamboo crafts. To this day, Chiang Mai's handicrafts are still highly praised for both their styles and prices. In addition, there are numerous historical sites and temples that allow visitors to explore at a leisurely pace and deeply experience Thai culture.

Recommended Must-Visit Attraction: Wat Phra Singh

Wat Phra Singh (Wat Phra Singh) houses many of the most important essences of Lanna art. In 1345 AD, King Pha Yu first built a stupa here to house the ashes of his father. The temple was originally named Li Chiang Phra Temple. Since 1367 AD, when a statue of the Lion Buddha was enshrined here, it was renamed Wat Phra Singh, which means Lion Temple in Thai. Regarding the Lion Buddha, it is considered a noble and rare Buddha statue, originating from Bodhgaya in India. Its lion-shaped body is somewhat plump, with a Buddha halo on its head resembling a lotus bud, and its saffron robe naturally drapes over the left shoulder, with the end hanging down over the chest. There are two accounts of the origin of the Lion Buddha at Wat Phra Singh. One says that in 1455 AD, along with the construction of Wat Chet Yot, a Buddha statue from the Indian Pala sect was brought back. Later, Lanna sculptors from the Sukhothai sect made many bronze replicas, and the Lion Buddha thus combines features of Buddha statues from both regions. Another account is that the Lion Buddha came from Sri Lanka and was gifted to the King of Chiang Mai before being enshrined at Wat Phra Singh. In 1661 AD, King Narai of Ayutthaya had the statue moved to Ayutthaya, but in 1767 AD, during a battle between Lanna soldiers and Burmese troops, it was found in a sack. The origins of the Lion Buddha remain unclear. Although the Viharn Lai Kham (Lai Kham Hall) in the temple was built specifically to enshrine this Lion Buddha, the Buddha statue currently housed there is also a replica. The original is said to be in the Chiang Mai National Museum. Another important treasure in the hall is the wall paintings. These paintings are known for depicting scenes of daily life in the early northern region and the conditions of the Burmese royal court, with delicate brushwork. The content mainly consists of two fables about the triumph of good over evil. Additionally, on the right-hand side as you enter the temple, there stands a typical northern-style scripture depository. It has an elevated platform base, with stucco reliefs of deities and Buddha statues on the outer walls, and the wooden scripture depository above features exquisite wood carvings, making it a highlight of the temple’s traditional art.

Recommended Must-Visit Attraction: The Ancient City Walls and Gates of Chiang Mai

Originally, Chiang Mai had two layers of city walls: an outer earthen wall and an inner brick wall. Most of these have now collapsed, leaving behind the four corners of the inner wall and five city gates, while the moat still clearly outlines the rectangular area of the old city. The north side was considered the head of Chiang Mai, so Chang Puak Gate (Chang Puak Gate) was reserved for royal use only. Thaphae Gate (Thaphae Gate) on the east side means "bamboo raft pier," symbolizing the foundation of the city's governance and also serving as Chiang Mai’s official welcome gate. As a result, the annual Loy Krathong (Floating Lantern) Festival parade also begins at Thaphae Gate. The southern part of the wall had two gates: Chiang Mai Gate and Suan Prung Gate. Chiang Mai Gate used to be the main passageway for merchants and traders, while Suan Prung Gate was built in the 15th century. Suan Dok Gate on the west side leads to Wat Suan Dok, which was once the royal garden, symbolizing the protection of the city’s residents. The four corners of the wall also each hold representative significance. The northeast corner, Sri Phum, means "light of the earth" and influences the glory of the city—it is the most important corner. The southeast corner, Katam, means "fishing trap" and affects the city’s defensive structures. The southwest corner, Ku Ruangr, represents warding off bad luck. The northwest corner, Hua Rin, signifies a water source and influences the city’s longevity. The current walls were rebuilt by Chao Kawila, the last ruler of Chiang Mai, in the late 18th century after reclaiming the city from the Burmese. Even though the walls are now weathered, walking along the moat and looking at the bricks of the ancient walls still allows one to imagine the glorious days of the former royal city.

Recommended Must-Visit Attraction: Maesa Elephant Camp

In the past, elephants were not only sacred symbols in Thai religious culture but also working partners in daily life. Especially in Chiang Mai, the logging industry relied heavily on elephants to transport heavy timber, making elephant keeping economically viable. However, as times changed, mahouts who made a living from elephant keeping became unemployed due to the decline of related industries. The Thai government organized these people and elephants, and they are now privately managed and cared for with some government funding. Maesa Elephant Camp is one such example. Before officially meeting the elephants, there is a sign not far from the entrance that clearly lists each elephant’s basic information and the mahout responsible for its care, helping visitors understand that this place is not just about watching elephant performances but also involves ecological conservation responsibilities. Today, mahouts and elephants remain working partners, albeit in a changed form. The elephant camp holds regular elephant performances at set times each day, starting with a warm-up of the elephants bathing in the stream, followed by marching in formation and the elephants swaying their heads and tails in dance, and ending with an elephant painting as the grand finale. These elephant painters start training at the age of 10. In addition to live performances, their completed paintings also become souvenirs at the park, generating additional income. After the show, visitors can ride elephants through the mountains. At the end of the activity, you can buy a bunch of bananas as a token of gratitude for the elephants. Although the park inevitably trains elephants to perform, it provides them with shelter and income for the mahouts. The park also has an elephant hospital and now offers experiences where visitors can try being a mahout, achieving both conservation and tourism benefits.

Recommended Must-Visit Attraction: Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (Doi Suthep Temple)

The location of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (Doi Suthep Temple) is associated with a magical legend about a white elephant. It is said that in the 14th century, the relics of the Buddha were discovered in northern Thailand, but there was uncertainty about where to enshrine them. A white elephant, symbolizing auspiciousness and sacredness, was then brought in to carry the Buddha’s relics. The final resting place of the relics was determined by where the elephant stopped. Although the duration of the journey and stops varies in different accounts, ultimately, the white elephant stopped at the current site of Doi Suthep Temple, thus determining the location for the relics. Today, a white elephant statue still stands beside the temple to pass on this story. The most famous feature of Doi Suthep Temple is the long staircase leading up the hillside, currently estimated to have 306 steps. It is said that around the mid-16th century, the stone staircase with over 200 steps in front of the temple, flanked by naga (serpent) guardians, had taken its initial form. After repeated constructions, it became what it is today, earning the temple the nickname “Temple of the Two Dragons.” This naga-guarded staircase symbolizes a rainbow bridge, representing a path from the human world to heaven. At the top of the staircase are two guardian yaksha (demigods), representing the guardians of heaven. Inside the temple gates, the entire complex can be divided into two sections: the main chapel and chedi (stupa) are located in the central courtyard surrounded by corridors. Before stepping into the courtyard, remember to remove your shoes. Devotees usually first enter the main chapel to worship the Buddha, receive blessings from the abbot, and then walk around the chedi once while holding flowers and incense. The corridor of the courtyard is adorned with rows of wish bells, each inscribed with the name and wish of the person who hung it. The bells tinkle in the wind along with Buddhist chants, calming the minds of worshippers. The courtyard was renovated to its current form in 1805 by Chao Kawila. On the east and west sides of the corridor are shrine halls. Devotees mostly go to the western hall to pray and receive holy water blessings from monks. Both shrine halls feature murals: the eastern hall depicts the legend of Sumana Thera and the Buddha’s relics, while the western hall illustrates the story of the Buddha’s 10th reincarnation. Along the corridor are rows of Buddha statues—46 in total—and the walls are painted with scenes from the life of the Buddha. In 1525, King Muang Kaew renovated the chedi, and now the entire structure is almost entirely covered in gold leaf, standing over 20 meters tall. The spire’s chedi finial is made of 36 kilograms of gold and inlaid with 999 diamonds and one gemstone of each of the nine colors. Like other temples, there are seven Buddha statues in different poses beside the main hall, each representing the Buddha of a specific birth date. Worshippers choose the one corresponding to their birthday to pray and paste gold leaf for blessings. Descending from the main hall, a row of bronze bells lines the corridor, which devotees can ring one by one as a form of blessing and to spread the Dharma’s teachings further through the sound of the bells. The largest bell in the corner courtyard was donated by Taiwanese devotees—you might want to go over and ring it in response to their devotion. Doi Suthep Temple sits at an altitude of 1,059 meters and is the closest high point to downtown Chiang Mai. From the bell tower on the south side, you can overlook the entire city. On clear days, the walls of the old city are also clearly visible. Notes: All visitors must wear knee-length pants or skirts to enter the inner temple. If your clothing does not comply, the temple provides sarong-like skirts or pants for rent at 10 baht each. Shoes must be removed before entering.