About Chiang Mai Thailand

HISTORY OF CHIANG MAI THAILAND

Tradition dictated that Tai kings establish their capital in a valley allowing easy access to water and timber. With such a ceremonious landscape, King Mengrai (1239-1311), the powerful Tai ruler of the mighty Lanna Kingdom, picked Chiang Mai as the site for his new capital city in 1296. Lanna was a dominant powerful kingdom of the Tai Yuan (originally from southern China) in northern Thailand who practiced Mon Buddhism.

He named it "Nophaburi Sri Nakhon Ping Chiang Mai", which over time was shortened to Chiang Mai, meaning “New City” and became its first ruler. He was the son of the king of Chiang Saen and  a southern Chinese princess.

Prior to that, he’d ruled his "million rice fields”  from Chiang Saen (a key trade town on the banks of the Mekong River), Fang Chiang Rai and Wiang Khum Kham.

This last southeast of Chiang Mai, the most problematic. Due to its seasonal flooding, the king abandoned it and moved his capital to a better location in Chiang Mai, which lies in the foothills of the Doi Suthep in the same Ping River valley. The ruins of the deserted former capital were to be discovered only seven centuries later and are now a major tourist attraction.

Under his reign, the greatness of Chiang Mai was ensured even though Burma remained a constant threat. Mengrai made friends with King Ramkhamhaeng the Great of the far more powerful and older Thai kingdom of Sukhothai and King  Ngam Muang of Phayao. These and other allies kept Burma's eastward expansion in cheek though only for a while. In this peaceful period, Mengrai was busy expanding his empire by absorbing the smaller principalities into his own.

One of his major achievements was the seizure and integration of the Haripunchai Kingdom (presently known as Lamphun, 26 kilometers to the south of Chiang Mai) into Lanna, which by then straddled a large chunk of northern Thailand from Chiang Rai to Lampang.

Mengrai was responsible for much of Chiang Mai’s cultural and economic wealth. The layout of his capital, fortified by moats and bastions, was dotted with numerous gilded temples in its square mile.

Many still stand to this day. The most venerated was and still is Wat Phra Singh, which together with Wat Chiang Man, dates back to the early 14th century. Wat Jet Yod was another important temple built for the Eighth World Buddhist council in 1477-

But Chiang Mai was the victim of its own riches, which were being eyed by its neighbours. This resulted in Lannas many battles with Ayutthaya in the 14th and 15th centuries, which left it in tatters. A combination of internal divisions and palace intrigues destabilised it further and finally brought its downfall in 1558 when the efficient Burmese forces under the command of King Bayinnaung captured this very weak city. It was to remain under Burmese rule for two centuries.

Burmese occupation ended in 1774, when Siams King Taksin and Chao Kawila conquered Chiang Mai, sending the Burmese home for good. Its been part of Thailand ever since. 

WHEN TO GO TRAVEL TO CHIANG MAI

The best time to do a tour in Chiang Mai is when the scenery is cool and flowers are blooming. The weather is an important factor, as is how busy the area is likely to be at any given time of the year. Many visitors agree the perfect time to visit is between December and February. The downside of these three months is that they represent the high season when Thai tourists also flock to the north to enjoy the cold weather and accommodation prices go up.

Those looking for greenery can enjoy the time around October when the monsoon is finished and fluffy clouds float in a blue sky. This is also the time when the rice paddies in Chiang Mai turn from green to gold and the vivid colours of the fields are a sight to behold. Those who enjoy having fun with water and festivities will prefer April. This is also the Thai school holidays and the city gets lively with lots of activities for young people.