The city of Chiang Mai was established in 1296. It became the new capital of the Lanna Kingdom, succeeding Wiang Kum Kam, which was in an area prone to flooding. The capital can still be seen in the existing ruins and surrounding moat within the modern city of Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai’s Old City area, as it has come to be known, is worth exploring for a day or two when you’re staying at a hotel near Tweechol Botanic Garden. The area has a slightly different and ancient atmosphere once you cross the moat and enter the walls of the old city. Strolling around the area, you’ll be in a modern city, only to suddenly happen on an ancient temple or Buddhist Chedi among the cars and cafes of modern life. We’ll offer a list of a few of the sights to be seen within Chiang Mai’s Old City moat.
The city of Chiang Mai has more than 300 wats and temples, and more than a third of these are within the old town's moat and ancient crumbling walls. Three of the most impressive wats in the area are:
This is the home of the city's most prominent Buddhist chedi, at 98 meters tall and 54 meters in diameter. The chedi is a restoration. The original chedi was destroyed in an earthquake in 1545. The ordination hall and surrounding buildings offer a glimpse into the classic Lanna style of architecture.
This temple is more than 655 years old and has become one of the most visited temples in Chiang Mai. The Viharn Lai Kham is a structure housing several murals depicting stories of life in ancient Chiang Mai. This temple also houses Thailand's second most important Buddha image, the Phra Buddha Sihing. Its importance is second only to the Emerald Buddha in Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok.
Wat Chian Man is the oldest wat in the city. It was built in 1297, a year after the city was established. The temple is famous for its Lanna-style architecture, with the large Chedi Chang Lom supported by elephant-shaped buttresses. The chedi and two halls, called wihans, are surrounded by picturesque lawns and greenery, making this temple well worth a visit.
Several other places within Chiang Mai’s Old City will give you a sense of what life was like centuries ago in this historic region of Northern Thailand.
This gate into the old city is one of the most famous landmarks in Chiang Mai. There are five other gates, but this gate is in one of the most well-preserved sections of the ancient walls and serves as the symbolic entrance to the old city.
the Three Kings Monument is a royal statue dedicated to the memory of Kings Mangrai, Ngam Mueang, and Ramkhamhaeng. These three kings formed a bond that enabled the establishment of Chiang Mai and the preservation of the ruins of the Old City. The Monument is at the corner of Arak 5 Road Prapokklao Road in the Old City section of Chiang Mai. The plaza in front of the Monument is a popular staging area for much of the city's cultural performances, community gatherings and public ceremonies.
You should visit three cultural centers within the moat and walls of the Old City. These centers have a wealth of information about the ancient Lanna Kingdom and the history of modern Chiang Mai. They include the Chiang Mai Cultural Centre, the Chiang Mai Historical Centre, and the Lanna Folklife Centre.
They're all located in the Old City section of Chaing Mai, close to the Three Kings Monument. Browsing among the exhibits of these facilities gives you a more complete picture of the ancient capital of the Lanna Kingdom and the modern city it evolved into.
To fully immerse yourself in the old-world architecture and décor of the Lanna Kingdom, book a room at our Horizon Village & Resort among the beauty of the Tweechol Botanic Gardens in Chiang Mai.
We have three restaurants, a swimming pool, yoga and massage, a kid's zone, and kid's activities. We also offer a variety of rooms, suites, and deluxe villas decorated in a contemporary Lanna style. Enjoy exploring the Old City of Chiang Mai and then return to the comfort of your beautiful accommodations at Horizon Village & Resort. Book a stay at a stunning resort near the Tweechol Botanic Gardens.
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