Chaing Mai Page

Did You Know? - This unique café is entirely decorated by the owner, a very original soul. The music is always delightful (well, that is, if you appreciate latin vibes) and the garden is the perfect green hideaway – it’s like having your coffee in a jungle corner inside the city.

Did You Know? - Wat Chedi Luang ( Thai : วัดเจดีย์หลวง, lit. temple of the big stupa) is a Buddhist temple in the historic centre of Chiang Mai , Thailand . The current temple grounds were originally made up of three temples — Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Ho Tham and Wat Sukmin.

Did You Know? - The construction of the temple started in the 14th century, when King Saen Muang Ma planned to bury the ashes of his father there. After 10 years of building time it was left unfinished, later to be continued after the death of the king by his widow. Probably due to stability problems it took until mid-15th century to be finished during the reign of king Tilokaraj . It was then 82 m high and had a base diameter of 54 m, at that time the largest building of all Lanna . In 1468, the Emerald Buddha was installed in the eastern niche. In 1545, the upper 30 m of the structure collapsed after an earthquake, and shortly thereafter, in 1551, the Emerald Buddha was moved to Luang Prabang .

In the early 1990s the chedi was reconstructed, financed by UNESCO and the Japanese government. However the result is somewhat controversial, as some claim the new elements are in Central Thai style, not Lanna style. For the 600th anniversary of the chedi in 1995, a copy of the Emerald Buddha made from black jade was placed in the reconstructed eastern niche. The icon is named official Phra Phut Chaloem Sirirat, but is commonly known as Phra Yok.

Did You Know? - Wat Phra Singh (full name: Wat Phra Singh Woramahaviharn - Thai alphabet : วัดพระสิงห์วรมหาวิหาร ( Pronunciation )) is a Buddhist temple ( Thai language : Wat ) in Chiang Mai , Northern Thailand. King Ananda Mahidol ( Rama VIII ), the older brother of the present King Bhumibol Adulyadej ( Rama IX ), bestowed it the status of Royal temple of the first grade in 1935.

Did You Know? - Wat Phra Singh is located in the western part of the old city centre of Chiang Mai, which is contained within the city walls and moat . The main entrance, which is guarded by Singhs (lions), is situated at the end of the main street (Rachadamnoen road) of Chiang Mai. The road runs east from the temple, via Tapae Gate, to the Ping River .

Did You Know? - Construction on Wat Phra Singh began in 1345 when King Phayu, the fifth king of the Mangrai dynasty, had a chedi built to house the ashes of his father King Kham Fu. A wihan and several other buildings were added a few years later and the resulting complex was named Wat Lichiang Phra. When, in 1367, the statue of Phra Buddha Singh was brought to the temple, the temple complex received its present name.

During restoration works in 1925, three funerary urns were discovered inside a small chedi. It was assumed that these contained royal ashes. The urns have since been lost. From 1578 to 1774 the Burmese ruled Lanna and in this period the temple was abandoned and came under serious disrepair. It was only when King Kawila assumed the throne as King of Chiang Mai in 1782, that the temple was restored. King Kawila had the ubosot built and the chedi enlarged. Later successors restored the Wihan Lai Kham and the elegant Ho Trai (temple library).

The whole temple complex underwent extensive renovations under the famous monk Khru Ba Srivichai during the 1920s. Many of the buildings were again restored in 2002.

Did You Know? - King Mangrai (1238–1317), also known as Mengrai was the 25th King of Ngoen Yang (r.1261-1296) and the first King of Chiang Mai (r.1296-1317), capital of the Lanna Kingdom (1296–1558).

King Mangrai was born on October 2, 1238 in Ngoen Yang, [1] (present day Chiang Saen ), in Thailand on the Mekong River , as the son of the local ruler Lao Meng and his wife Ua Ming Chommueang, a princess from the Tai Lue city of Chiang Rung, which is now called Jinghong , in Sipsongpanna ( Xishuangbanna ), Yunnan , China.

In 1259, Mangrai succeeded his father to become the first independent king of the unified Tai city states in northern Lanna and what is now northern Laos . Seeing that all the Tai states were disunited and in danger, Mangrai quickly expanded his kingdom by conquering Muang Lai, Chiang Kham and Chiang Khong and initiating alliances with other states.

Did You Know? - As you face the big wiharn, to your right is a small elaborate ho trai (library) built on a high stone base. The base has many beautiful carvings which have recently been renovated, as have the gilded carvings on the gable ends. Continuing on around the complex in a counter-clockwise direction, you'll find a drum tower set in a yard shaded by many old trees. Sometimes there's an artist or two at work here, and selling their work of course.

Did You Know? - A Chedi is a Thai term for stupa. A stupa (from Sanskrit : m., स्तूप, stūpa, Sinhalese : ස්ථූපය, Pāli : थुप "thūpa", literally meaning "heap") is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of worship. The term " reliquary " is sometimes used, after a Christian functional equivalent. Stupas are an ancient form of mandala .

Did You Know? - Of all the temples in Chiang Mai , Wat Phra Singh is one of the biggest, as well as one of the most historically significant. The temple of Wat Phra Singh is the former home of the Emerald Buddha, one of the most prestigious religious artifacts in Southeast Asia, which is now located at the Grand Palace in Bangkok .

Did You Know? - The Monk Chats in Chiang Mai have been going on for quite a few years. I took this picture at Wat Chedi Luang, but the monk chats take place in other temples these days.

Basically, this is an opportunity for novice monks and young monks to practice their English with foreign tourists. At the same time, foreigners can learn a little about life in a Thai temple and what it’s like to be a Buddhist. If you go, please dress respectfully and maybe leave a donation in the box afterwards. For ladies, you shouldn’t touch or be alone with a monk.

Did You Know? - Brewing beer in Thailand began in 1934. (although the Singha label says "SINCE 1933") Locally produced Thai beers face competition from major international brands, but have successfully found their own niche in the Thai market and abroad.

Thai beer is typically lager . The oldest and most popular Thai beer in Thailand and abroad is Singha , brewed by Boon Rawd Brewery . Singha also appears in Thailand in Light (3.5% ABV) and Draught versions.