ONLINE HOTEL BOOKING/ CHIANGRAI

Chiang Rai, the northernmost province of Thailand is about 785 kilometers north of Bangkok. Situated on the Kok River basin, Chiang Rai covers an area of approximately 11,678 square meters with an average elevation of 580 meters above sea level. The province, which is located within the renowned Golden Triangle area where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand converge, is also known as the gateway to Myanmar, Laos and Southern China.

Chiang Rai, which was founded in 1262 by King Meng Rai, was the first capital of the Lanna Thai Kingdom (Kingdom of a million rice fields), which was later conquered by Burma. It was not until 1786 that Chiang Rai became a Thai territory and was proclaimed a province during the reign of King Rama VI in 1910.

Today, Chiang Rai is a traveler’s paradise endowed with abundant natural tourist attractions and antiquities; the province itself is evidence of past civilization. Attractions range from magnificent mountain scenery, ruins of ancient settlements, historic sites, Buddhist shrines and ethnic villages as the province is also home to several hill tribes who maintain fascinating lifestyles. For those interested in the natural side of Chiang Rai, jungle trekking is recommended along various trails.

Chiang Rai which tends to be a little more 'laid back' now competes with Chiang Mai as a tourist attraction and is fast becoming a popular escape for tourists wanting to get away from the troubles they left behind.

King Mengrai of Ngoen Yang near present-day Chiang Saen founded Chiang Rai in 1263. The story goes that he was chasing down an errant prize elephant and finally recaptured it at the foot of Doi Tong. Taking this as a good sign, he founded the city here. About 30 years later he went on to found Chiang Mai further south.

Chiang Rai was once a walled city like Chiang Mai, but in the 19th century the walls were pulled down on the advice of a Dutch engineer who believed they were bad for public health. 'Restricted the flow of fresh air' was apparently the justification. A few years ago, in order to make the city more interesting for tourists, the city fathers tried to reconstruct part of the wall, but it turned out there was no archaeological or archival evidence of what the walls looked like.

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