In the 13th century, the city of Chiang Rai, located in northern Thailand, was chosen to serve as the capital of the Lanna Kingdom. Both the city and the province with the same name are known for their rich cultural environment, interesting temples, and the cultivation of high-quality tea and coffee. Additionally, this region of the country is known for its relative tranquilly, with a lower number of tourists visiting than its neighbour, Chiang Mai. In today’s post, we highlight a few of the compelling reasons why your next vacation to Thailand should include Chiang Rai as a destination.
Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple
Wat Rong Kung, which is located in Chiang Rai, deviates from the traditional architectural style that is typical of temples located across the rest of Thailand. The Buddha is depicted in white, which stands for his pristine nature. You have to walk across a bridge that is adorned with hieratic figures in order to get into the main area. These figures are meant to be a metaphor for the required suffering that you have to go through in order to get to heaven. The first stone was laid in 1997, and it is anticipated that construction would continue for several more decades after that. The well-known Thai visual artist Chalermchai Kositpipat was responsible for the temple’s design.
Wat Rong Suea Ten
A little more than five years ago, the doors to the mysterious Blue Temple, also known as Wat Rong Suea Ten, were first opened in Chiang Rai. It was constructed on land where there was already an older temple, and the architect who was responsible for its construction had previously worked at another location, the White Temple, whose architecture is likewise outside of the traditional canons. The two enormous nagas that guard the entrance to the Blue Temple are the most recognisable feature of the building. The Puttha Kabkaew was the one who came up with the idea.
Doi Pha Mi Cafe
Villages inhabited by people of the Akha tribe can be found in the mountains of Doi Phi Mee, which are located in the northern part of Thailand. In 1970, King Bhumibol made a journey to that region of the country, and while there, he instructed the locals to experiment with growing a variety of crops in order to determine which one was most suited to the arid and hilly environment. Arabica coffee, specifically, was found to produce the most desirable outcomes. The visitor is able to tour the plantations to observe the work that is done during collection and to gain knowledge about how to make the ideal cup of coffee, beginning with the grinding of the beans by hand. The majority of the organic coffee is grown on small parcels of land that families own.
Tham Pa Archa Thong Monastery
The unique monastery of Tham Pa Archa Thong may be found in the region of Chiang Rai in Thailand. At the crack of dawn on weekdays, the monks of this monastery mount their horses and travel across the surrounding countryside to collect the traditional offerings. They say that one of the most important monks, Kruba Nuea Chai, was responsible for developing this practise. He exerted a lot of effort in order to persuade the people who lived in the region to enrol their children in classes at the monastery. By doing so, he hoped to protect them from becoming involved in illegal activities. The locals wanted to show their appreciation, so they presented him with a horse that he could use to travel the lengthy distances and tortuous roads on the way back from the monastery. The name Archa, which is bestowed upon it, derives from the Thai word for horse.
Wat Phra Singh
The Phra Singh Temple was constructed in 1385 using Lanna architecture. As a result, it is considered to be one of the most ancient temples in Chiang Rai. At the moment, the building in its original form has been kept intact. The ubosot, also known as the ordination room, as well as the lavish ornamentation of the wooden doors and windows, which artists carved with Lanna floral designs and figures of Thewada, which are beings from the heavens, are particularly noteworthy.
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