| Chiang Rai infos & tours |
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| Chiang Rai was founded in 1262 by King Mengrai (who also built Chiang Mai in 1296), and was the first capital of the Lanna Thai Kingdom. Chiang Rai was occupied by the Burmese from 1558 until 1774 when it became part of Siam once again. Because of its fertile soil, plentiful water supplies and favorable climate, it has a surplus of rice and also produces large quantities of maize, beans, tobacco, longan, lynchee and strawberries. Chiang Rai is among the oldest towns of Thailand. Mostly consisting of mountains and forests, its main tourist attractions lie in scenic places, such as national parks, botanical gardens, caves and waterfalls. Chiang Rai's attractions are divided according to the counties they belong to. |
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| Getting there and getting around |
| You can reach Chiang Rai by bus, car, plane and train. All of these run directly from Bangkok and provide for a comfortable journey. Transportation is readily available in Chiang Rai. You can choose to travel on Tuk-tuks, songthaews or taxis. |
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| Activities & sight-seeing |
The Princess Mother Hall and Doi Mae Salong are located about 70 km northwest of Chiang Rai and can be accessed by a scenic and sometimes quite steep road from Mae Chan. In Mae Salong there is a museum of the Kuomintang and their plight after being exiled from China by Mao Zedong, and subsequently forced to leave Burma from where they entered Thailand, helping at times to fight the Communists.
Doi Tung Royal Villa is the final residence of the mother of the King of Thailand, known as the Princess Mother. It is located at kilometre 12 on highway 1149, to the west of highway 1. This magnificent villa was built on the mountain overlooking the surrounding hills and valleys in a unique mix of Swiss and Lanna architectural styles. Adjacent to the villa is a large flower-filled garden, and a memorial hall commemorating the Princess Mother.
Other activities include:
- trekking and exploring the hill tribes of Chiang Rai.
- visit the famous Golden Triangle and Mae Sai.
- take a trip to Kon Korn Waterfall and Buffalo Horn Hill along with visiting Wat Rong Kuhn (the White Temple), one of the most beautiful and most visited Thai Temples nowadays. |
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| Climate |
| Chiang Rai's climate is characterized by three distinct seasons: hot, rainy and cool. Due to the overall higher altitude, mean temperatures in Chiang Rai are typically cooler than in Thailand's southern, low-lying provinces. |
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| Tours & Services |
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