LOCATED at the northern part of Thailand is Chiang Mai, a city that has a rich mix of various attractions. My first visit there lasted for about eight to nine hours only, as we crossed Laos to Thailand and took an overnight bus ride in order to celebrate Songkran Festival in this culture-rich city.
And what luck I had that the two instances I was part of a familiarization trip in Thailand, Chiang Mai was the highlight of both trips. Definitely, Chiang Mai is already ingrained in memory. Here are the 10 things that I will never forget about this place.
1. The Old City Walls
I recall walking through the old city walls of Chiang Mai during our first trip here as people at the moat splashed water on everyone passing by. What remains of the walls is reminiscent of the ancient life in Chiang Mai.
2. Temple Hopping
Chiang Mai probably has several beautiful temples, or wats. I dedicated an entire blog post solely for the wats I have visited, which is about six to seven in all. The most popular is the Wat Phra That DoiSuthep, which is perched on a mountain.
3. The Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai
I have stayed in this hotel, which looked like a huge palace compound, for several nights. It was luxury to its finest, as my suite has a Jacuzzi and terrace, not to mention my very own butler. The vast hotel property has several villas and residences with rice fields all over.
4. Elephant Camp
Those elephants surely know how to wow the crowd. It was lovely seeing them take a plunge at the river, enjoying the cool waters. I rode one of them, which was quite an experience.
5. The Royal Project
Visiting the plantation in Doi Mon Cham and the facilities at the Nong Hoi Royal Development Center in the Mae Rim District has shown me how the Royal Project has helped the farmers earn a living while protecting the environment.
6. Lanna Culture
The traditional Lanna culture is very much engrained in Chiang Mai. They have the Lanna Folklife Museum to show people what it is all about. I watched Lanna cultural presentations at the Old Chiangmai Cultural Center and the Dhara Dhevi hotel.
7. Umbrella Making
It was a fun experience designing my own traditional Thai umbrella. I did so at the Thailand Creative and Design Center (TCDC). But it was quite different to witness how it is made step by step when we went to the Borsang Umbrella Making Centre.
8. Night Bazaar
What’s nice to shop at night, under the stars, is that the air is cooler and the vibe is more energized. Don’t worry when it rains, as we experienced ourselves, because there are markets that also have roofs over them so you can still enjoy your shopping escapade.
9. Flora and fauna gardens
The Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden and the Orchid and Butterfly Farm are both endearing to the senses. You feel relaxed amidst the burst of colors and shapes of the different flower and plant species in both destinations.
10. Quaint hotels and restaurants
Lunch at the restaurants of quaint hotels, like the Rachamankha, a relais and chateux, and the 137 Pillars House, were very sumptuous. Not only I was able to enjoy the delectable food in both properties, I also had the opportunity to see their amenities. Rarinjinda and Siripanna are also two hotels you’d like to consider for a relaxing stay in Chiang Mai. All four have enticing pools, by the way.
*****
Claire Marie Algarme blogs at firsttimetravels.com. Follow her as @firsttimetravel on Twitter and Instagram.