Chiang Rai thiland is the northern most city in the country . It was once famous for the opium trading , Now a major tourist destination for it’s beautiful Buddhist temple and natural Beauty . It is also a major point to enter Laos through the Mekong River . This place is also the living place of the different tribes of Thailand , some of them comes from the Mayanmar and China . A perfect day excursion in Chiang Rai Thiland includes White Temple , Blue Temple , Wat phra kaew , Wat Ming Meuang , The Hill tribe Museum , Baan Dam Museum , Wat Huay Pla Kung , Goden clock tower and many more .
How to reach chiang rai :
Chiang Rai City is situated in the northern most part of thiland . It is situated 800 km North of Bangkok . It can be reached by only by bus .
There is a direct bus service from the Bangkok but It is was very tiring . It is a long 20 hour journey .
But most comfortable journey would be to take a train and reach to Chiang Mai from Bangkok . From Chiang Mai take a Bus toward Chiang Rai . It is just a 2 hour journey .
Wat Rong Khun or White Temple :
Wat Rong Khun is one of the major tourist attraction in the outskirt of the Chiang Rai City . It is made of cement , plaster of paris and the broken glasses . It was made by Ajarn Chalermchai Kositpipat , a local artist from Chiang Rai . It started building in 1997 and this temple is still not completed and supposed to be completed in the year 2070 . This temple is totally a white colored and having thai art of unique style . 120 volunteers try to build this temple for years . You can see lots of weird looking faces hanging from the tree inside the temple complex .
This temple is situated 8 km from the Chiang Rai Bus terminal 2 . Songthaew and buses are running toward this temple from the Chiang Rai bus station . There are lots of tourist facility and shops near to this temple .
Wat Rong Suea Ten Blue Temple :
Wat Rong suea ten is a temple colored totally Blue . Previously it was a forest land but later it was converted as the blue temple . At that time in this area tigers are roam around . For that reason this temple was called “Temple of Dancing Tigers ” . This temple was build by Putha Kabkaew who was a student who build the famous Wat Rong Khun .
Wat Phra Kaew and Sangkaew Museum :
Wat Phra Kaew is the most sacred Buddhist place in the Chiang Rai province . It is the place of the original emerald Buddha which is now established in the Grand Palace of Bangkok . The building has been build in the traditional thai style .
Inside the complex of this temple there is a museum which was full of Buddhist tradition and manuscripts . There is a solar watch inside this museum .
Entry is free to this museum and opened between 9 am to 5 pm .
Golden Clock Tower :
Golden clock tower is an unique attraction in the town of Chiang Rai city . It is situated in the junction of the two major roads and build in the memoir of Queen sirikit in the year 2005 . It was build in a unique thai style .
Wat Huay Pla Kang :
Wat Huay Pla Kang is a temple situated in a Hill Top . There is mainly three structure in this complex . There is a one big Pagoda , a Guan Yin Statue and another temple .
This big Guan Yin statue is the major attraction in this place. There is a lift in the base of the statue to reach to the top . From this place you can see the surrounding places .
This temple is opened from the 6:00 am to 9:30 pm . There is no entry fees to this temple but 40 THB to reach to the top .
Long Neck Karen Village :
This village is situated 21 km north towards the Mayanmar Border . In this village you can visit the lifestyle of the different tribes . This village is mostly famous for the Karen tribes from the Rakhan province of Mayanmar who wear metal rings in their neck to make it lengthy . It is a type of beauty in the Karen Tribe . In this village you can see some traditional houses and in front of the houses they sold some hand made items .
Rather than karen tribe there is akha , Lahu , kayor and Yao tribes live in this village . In every village there is common meeting places . In return of money they perform dance and play traditional music . I brought a bamboo cup from this place . This place is almost like a living museum where you can see the lifestyle of this people .
There is sharp entry fees of 500 THB for Adults and 250 THB for this Museum . Entry is from 8am – 6 pm .
Night Market of Chiang Rai :
This is famous for the different types of cloths and foods . This market starts from the 6 pm and continue till the midnight .
You can see vendors selling different types of worms which are eaten here . Rather than this you can got any kind of food .
This is the center of the Night life activity in Chiang Rai City .
Golden Triangle :
This is the Northern most point of Thiland and meeting point of three country Laos , Thiland and the Mayanmar . Here the famous Mekong and the Ruak river meets . Previously it was infamous for the Opium cultivation and trade . Lots of Europeand and Chines were involved in this trade . Now a days inside thiland opium production is banned but inside Mayanmar there is large scale production of Opium .
So whenever visiting Golden Triangle carry the original passport . Police may question any time . Previously it was notorious for drug trafficking . There is no bus to this place some song thaw runs in this route from the Chiang sean city but they were very in frequent . Better option will be come this place by your private car .
House of Opium Museum :
If you are interested in the History of the Opium trade and opium cultivation and consumption in this area then this museum is the perfect place for you . in 1941 when the chines communist party banned the opium cultivation in China , then this cultivation comes in this place to cater the opium demand of the world . Still now Mayanmar is one of the leading opium cultivating countries in the World .
In this museum you can see how the opium are cultivated . Different phases of opium cultivation . How opium is extracted . Then after you can see different pots to measure opium . You can also see different instruments to consume opium . It is a very unique museum and you can spend half a day in this museum . This museum was opened in the year 1989 .
Entry fees to this museum is 50 THB . It is opened from the 7 am – 7 pm daily .
Summary :
Chinag Rai is one of the northern most city in the Thiland . It was infamous for opium trade long ago . Near by Golden Triangle are the border between the three country Laos , Mayanmar and Thiland . Famous places to visit in chiang rai thailand are Wat Rong Khun , Wat Rong Suea Ten , hill tribe museum , house of opium , Golden triangle , wat phra kaew , Wat Huay pla Kang , Long Neck Karen village and many more . Specially the long neck karen tribe womans are special attraction .
