| Page Views: 590 Last Visit to Chiang Rai: March, 2007 | City of Artists and Lanna Architects by Pat_Bangkok - last update: Mar 20, 2007 |
Chiang Rai province is located about 785 km north of Bangkok and it is the northernmost part of Thailand.
It borders Myanmar and Laos People Democratic Republic (PDR). This area is known as the “Golden Triangle” because in ancient times,
drug trafficking and cannabis production was prevalent here. Now it is merely relegated to a museum.
Golden Triangle area is now becoming a major tourist center of Chiang Rai.
The city is gradually becoming a gateway to China, Myanmar, Laos PDR, Vietnam, and Cambodia. It is collectively called The Greater Maekong Sub-region (GMS). |
Chiang Rai History King Meng Rai, a friend of King Ramkhamhaeng (1279-1299) of the Sukhothai Kingdom of Thailand, established Chiang Rai in 1262 A.D. near the Kok River.
Thirty-four years later, he founded Chiang Mai as a capital city and centre of the Lanna Thai Kingdom (circa 1262-1558 A.D). Thus the two towns have had brotherly relations for a long time. The Lanna Thai Kingdom covered the area of Chiang Mai, Chaing Rai, Phayao,Nan and other provinces in the North of Thailand at present. The kingdom became a Burmese colony from 1558 to 1774 A.D. But finally, King Taksin (1767-1782 A.D.), the king of Siam of the Thonburi period, won it back from the Burmese, and the Lanna Thai Kingdom became a
dependency of Siam (former name of Thailand). And Chiang Rai was ruled as a frontier town until 1933 when it became a province of Siam.
The city of Chiang Rai is about 740 years old. If one were to include the ancient city of Chiang Saen, it would have a combined history totaling over 2000 years old. |
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Pat_Bangkok's Chiang Rai Travel Tips
| Overview | Things to Do
Tips: 7 - Photos: 8 | | | | Restaurants | Hotels & Accommodations | | | | Nightlife | Off The Beaten Path | | | | Tourist Traps | Warnings Or Dangers | | | Transportation
Tips: 1 | Local Customs | | | | Packing Lists | Shopping | | | | Sports Travel | General Tips |
 Pat_Bangkok's Chiang Rai Travelogues | | | |
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 Comments for Pat_Bangkok about Chiang Rai | | | | |
Jim_Eliason Tue Nov 25, 2008 12:58 UTC
Cool pics! | goutammitra Sat Dec 15, 2007 09:51 UTC
Nice tips on Chiang Rai. Very beautiful. | nickandchris Mon Jun 25, 2007 15:26 UTC
Such beautiful buildings here. Lovely photos. | cachaseiro Sun Mar 25, 2007 17:04 UTC
very nice photos you have from thailand. it really makes me want to go back there:O) |
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