Planning a vacation in Chiang Mai? We’ll tell you the impress destinations, like a Thai people. Find out here what to see and do, where to find shopping, eating and nightlife in Chiang Mai.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden

Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden (QBG), Chiang Mai, Thailand, was established in. It is the first botanical garden of the country for there are scientific basis and purposes for the collections, as well as the provision of botanical education and research. QBG has the aims to serve as a center for botanical studies and research, a center for ex situ conservation of the Thai flora, and a place to provide botanical education and aesthetic displays for the general public.
Arboretum: Apart from the ornamental beds, another major attraction at the Garden is the arboretum. Here plants are grouped according to their botanical families for educational purposes. The Arboretum includes plants from various families including the following: Fig Family, Banana Family, Palm Family, Ginger Family, Pine Family.
Glasshouse Complex: The Glasshouse Complex is almost ready for the public viewing. It has been an ongoing project expected to be completed by August 2000. The complex comprises of 5 exhibition conservatories and 8 greenhouses for plant collections. The largest conservatory is the "Tropical Rainforest House" with a floor space of 1000 sq.m, and a height of 33 m. It holds the Garden's collection of native palms, cycads, ferns, and other tropical species of Southeast Asia. Apart from the tropical plants in the main Conservatory, other shaded glasshouses contain plants including orchids, cacti, and water lilies.
Orchid Nursery: Presently, there are about 500 species of wild Thai orchids in the orchid nursery. Among these, 60 species are considered rare and 20 species endangered. When appropriate, species under threat from becoming extinct are mass propagated in the tissue culture laboratory. Wild orchid collecting is done mainly in the North where more than 600 species have been estimated. Collected specimens are taxonomically identified, labeled, and well-taken care of in the nursery. Dried and preserved specimens are kept at the herbarium center for taxonomical use.
How to get there: Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden is located 27 km NW of Chiang Mai. It covers an area of 960 ha with about 80% designated as a watershed and conservation zone. Three major streams - Nawai, Phunsi, and Mae Sa Noi - flow down to join with the Mae Sa stream, making the main stream filled with water all year round. The topography in the area consists of plains alternating with interposing mountains. With its beautiful landscape and convenient access, the Garden is one of the major tourist attractions in Chiang Mai.

Mae Sa Waterfall

Mae Sa Waterfall is another image of Chiang Mai, although it is somewhat less famous than some other sites. The waterfall has 8 tiers and set against a backdrop of huge trees it is very impressive. (The 5th level is the most impressive.) The climate around the waterfall is cool throughout the year and it is a very popular meeting place for locals. For foreigners, the trip is often combined with a visit to the Mae Sa Elephant Training Centre.
How to get there: Mae Sa Waterfall is about 25 kilometers north of Chiang Mai on the Mae Rim-Samoeng Road, then turn left directly at km. 7 and enter the ares of the National park. Mae Sa Waterfall is one of the most famous in Mae Rim District. A number Songtaews are available from the city to the waterfall.

Pong Dueat Hot Springs

Pong Dueat Hot Springs is an impressive place to visit. It comprises 3-4 geysers (with water bursts that shoot 2-4 meters into the air) alongside a number of smaller springs.
The Pong Dueat Hot Springs (Pong Duad Pa Pae) is one of the pool types. The underground water seeps upward through a channel of solid melted rock which heats up the water. The accumulation of gases puts the hot water under high pressure and makes it spout into the air all the time but highest spring occurs at regular intervals. Underground, the temperature of the water varies between 170 and 200 degrees Celsius. Above ground the water temperature varies about 100 degrees Celsius.
How to get there: From Chiang Mai, you need to take route Mae Rim – Mae Taeng 40 kms and turn left to Route 1095(Mae Malai-Pai) 35 kms. At Km. 42, on your right you’ll reach a road that leads to Pong Dueat Hot Springs(Pong Duad Pa Pae), it’s 6 kilometers from here.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Ratchaphruek Garden

Ratchaphruek Garden is situated 10km southwest of Chiang Mai, in Mae Hia sub-district. Nestled in a lush mountain landscape, this 400 rai of land is not only the garden itself with its many plant and flower species but also its unique and delicate artwork and architecture which enriches the minds of its visitors with its seductive natural beauty.

The area was the site for the Royal Flora Expo 2006, the world most beautiful international horticultural exposition. This exhibition commemorated the auspicious occasion of the 60th anniversary of the crowning of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The Association of International Horticultural Producers (AIPH) gave the expo A1 status, its highest honor. Ratchaphruek Garden is truly the fruit of this special event. The garden has been carefully maintained and developed, and is a splendid resource for agrotourism, as well as being a learning and research centre for the public and a meeting-place for farmers to share knowledge.

Ho Kham Royal Pavilion: This pavilion is the symbol of the garden. It features traditional architecture in the style of Lanna, Northern Thailand. The Pavilion has high ceilings and steep multi-tiered roofs, exquisitely guilded in ancient technique. Visitors will be amazed by the uplifting beauty of Lanna wisdom and craftmanship.

The insides showcase paintings of King Bhumibol many activities aimed at the improvement of life for all Thai people. These works are an innovative juxtaposition of modern and traditional styles. The artists employ subdued tones of grey, red and gold, imbuing their work with a strange, dreamy quality. These paintings feature backgrounds drawn from the stylized tradition of temple mural paintings, with crisp -- almost photographic -- forms superimposed over them, imbuing the paintings with a surreal, otherworldy quality.

The Pavilion also houses the gorgeous Tree of the Ten Kingly Virtues. It is comprised of layered orbs of gold Bhodi leaves, and symbolizes the fact that the King provides a garden of spiritual shade for his people.

Corporate Gardens: Presented by various organizations and state enterprises, the Corporate Gardens showcase sustainability and eco-friendly agricultural techniques. The philosophy of these Gardens is driven by His Majesty tremendous insight and ingenuity to improve his people well-being. The idea is to spread knowledge and provide a model which can inspire those who visit the Gardens to internalize His Majesty theories and to go on to learn and care for the world.

International Gardens: This is an area where visitors can enjoy unique and innovative landscaping as well as horticultural highlights from 33 countries around the world, such as Japan, India, Bhutan, and South Africa. Not only does the International Garden include plants, but each country beautifully showcases its particular identity through architecture and art.

Indoor Exhibition The indoor exhibit consists of hydroponics, a tissue culture nursery, as well as a dome for tropical plants and buildings for desert and temporate plants.

Outdoor Exhibition: The Outdoor Gardens includes water plants, a lotus garden, plants from each province in Thailand, plants which are believed to be auspicious, plants from Buddhist history, and plants painstakingly trained into incredibly beautiful shapes. There is also a building which exhibits information on the history of Thai horticulture. The enormous Outdoor Garden showcases the diversity of tropical horticulture.

Rare Plants: Ratchaphruek Garden displays rare plants including the 'Royal Palm' and the 'Double Coconut', which stand at the garden entrance, and ancient pine trees which species dates from 250 million years ago.

Royal Palm: The smooth gray trunk, which is swollen at the base when it is young and at the middle when it is mature, sculpts the palm into a bottle shape. Its strikingly tall trunk can reach up to 20 metres in height, and its deep-green leaves make for an attractive tropical look.

Double Coconut: A native of the Seychelle Islands in the Indian Ocean, this palm is mostly grown for ornamntal reasons – the fruits resembling a double coconut contain the largest seeds in the plant kingdom – they are up to 30cm in diameter, 45 cm in length and can weigh up to 14 kg. In years past, the nuts were believed to have aphrodesiac qualities, probably owing to their similarity in appearace to the female pelvis region. In the 1700, the fruits were sold in parts of Europe for a very high price. The tree was also once thought to be the Tree of Good and Evil in the biblical Garden of Eden.

Trams are provided: 20 baht for adults, 10 baht for children. At present the garden is open only to groups and must be booked in advance. Knowledgeable guides conduct all tours. The garden is free of charge. Doors open every day except Monday, from 10:00 - 18:00. For further information call 0 5311 4110-5 fax. 0 5311 4116.

Wat Phra That Doi Kham

This temple is situated in Tambon Mae Hia, Amphoe Mueang. It is a beautiful temple situated on a lush mountainside near Chiang Mai Town. 'Wat Phra That' refers to the fact that this temple houses relics of the Buddha, and 'Doi Kham' means 'Golden Mountain’. The sacred temple was built more than 1300 years ago, in 687 A.D. It had been abandoned, but in 1966 villagers discovered a hidden chamber containing many ancient Buddha images of various sizes, and this find prompted revitalization.
There is an interesting folktale about Lord Buddha visiting this temple and meeting a rakshasa (demon) family who tried to eat him. Lord Buddha conquered them by sending them his kindness, which they could not stand. The rakshasa family eventually converted, revering our Lord Buddha, and also gave up consuming human flesh.
Removed at some distance from the temple itself, an enormous white pearl Buddha statue is strikingly placed amidst the mountain greenery. On the temple grounds, chedis (pagodas) enshrine Buddha relics. Stairs carved in the form of white nagas (mythical water serpents) lead to a calm and quiet lookout point which offers a panoramic view of Chiang Mai. Visitors may revel in the crisp fresh air and marvel at the picturesque splendour of the valley spread out before them. In addition, the lookout point boasts a beautifully carved wooden pavillion decorated with hanging bells tinkling in the breeze. The temple complex is a favorite fly-by for airplanes on their way to Chiang Mai Airport.
Getting There: From Chiang Mai Town, take the road paralleling Khlong Chonlaprathan , cross the canal when you reach the sign 'to Mae Hia', and then take the road up the mountain to Phra That Doi Kham. Energetic visitors may want to walk up the stairs to the mountaintop.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Wat Suan Dok

Wat Suan Dok was built in the 14th century and houses the 500-year old bronze Buddha image which is one of Thailands largest metal images. Several of the white chedis around the temple contain ashes of Chiang Mai's former royal family.
Wat Suan Dok is located just west of the old city walls on Suthep Road. The temple was built by King Keu Na of Lanna for a revered priest visiting from Sukhothai as a place for the monk to spend the rains retreat.
There are several unique features to this temple that you won't see in just about any other wat around Chiang Mai, or even elsewhere in Thailand. One of the first is the temple's large wiharn, or prayer hall. The chapel is unusual not only for its size, but also the fact that it is open on the sides rather than being totally enclosed.
Directly west of the wiharn are several large pagodas, called chedi in Thai. The largest of these is the center of another unusual story. Pagodas will almost always contain Buddhist relics. The biggest and most important chedis will contain a relic of the Buddha himself. In the case of Suan Dok, the largest stupa contained a relic that reputedly self-replicated. One of the relics was placed on the back of a royal white elephant, which was then allowed to wander where-ever it wanted to go.
Wat Suan Dok is located on Suthep road, next to the Hill Tribe Products Promotion Center.

Wat Tham Tap Tao

Wat Tham Tap Tao is situated in Chai Prakan Sub-district along the Chiang Mai-Fang route between Km.120 and Km.121. Temple attractions include a scripture hall located in the middle of a pond and Tap Tao cave which houses several unique Buddha images.
Tham Tab Tao is a dry fossil resurgence, which has been adapted to the Buddhist Temple Wat Tham Tab Tao. At the foot of the limestone cliffs are two stone staircases leading up to two caverns. On the left is Tham Pha Chak (Dark Cave). It is lit by electric light and contains many gold leaf covered statues of Buddha, including a large reclining Buddha with disciples.
On the right is Tham Pha Kha (Light Cave), which is illuminated by a shaft of daylight from the ceiling, hence the name. This is the show cave, and it is also electrically lit, some steep walls are equipped with ladders. However, there are several spots where the cave seems rather difficult and it is not suitable for the average tourist. Please use your brain and turn around before ave an accident.
At the foot is the active resurgence which feeds a large fish pond inside the monastery grounds. Actually all three caves are connected.

Wat Phra That Sri Chom Tong

Wat Phra That Sri Chom Tong is the Burmese-style chedi, built in 1451 and said to contain a relic of the Buddha. The cruciform wiharn was built around 1550 in the reign of King Muang Keo, and has beautiful gilded wood carving along the gables, eaves and portals, as well as on the teak columns and beams in the interior, making it an outstanding work of art. Inside there is also a Burmese-style altar, its rich decoration including two ornately worked elephant tusks, and a number of Buddha figures. The seated bronze Buddha is the object of particular veneration.
Wat Phra That Sri Chom Thong is situated 58 kilometers from the town in Chom Thong District.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

You haven’t gone to Chiang Mai unless you’ve been to Wat Phratat Doi Suthep. This place is the most important and famous in Chiang Mai. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep was built in 1383, this has a chedi that houses holy Buddha relics. The gold-plated chedi lies in the middle of a square marble-tiled courtyard. The corners of the chedi are adorned with parasols which represent royal regalia. The temples courtyard is lined by a cloister, which contains images and murals depicting Buddhas life. There are two viharns situated in the middle of the east and west sides of the cloister. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is 15 kilometers from town and is 3,520 feet above sea level. It is the perfect place to get a best view of the city. The temple can be reached via a steep Naga staircase comprised of 290 steps or railcars. The temple is open daily from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
To get there, drive along Huay Kaew Road up the mountain. Alternatively, there are song thaew services available at the foot of the mountain. It costs about 30 baht/head to go up to Doi Suthep and approximately 50 baht/head to go further to Doi Pui and Phu Phing Palace.

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