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Chiang Mai’s cultural landmarks and elephant sanctuaries
March 22, 2024
Nestled in the heart of Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai is a vibrant hub of culture, drawing travellers from far and wide. Renowned for its central location, Chiang Mai serves as the perfect gateway to explore the treasures of the North. Discover the city’s past as your cross its ancient walls marked by its original four gates each pointing in one of the cardinal directions.
Rise at dawn to participate in Tai Bat, the local name for alms giving in the morning, a tradition that goes back centuries. The most famous spot for alms giving in Chiang Mai is probably the Kruba Sriwichai statue. There, you will experience the profound reverence that Thai people hold for monks. Alms giving is a daily occurrence. However, full moon days hold a special place in Buddhism and in Chiang Mai they are especially important if they fall on a Wednesday. On this auspicious occasion, the alms giving does not take place at dawn, but at midnight.
Arrange for a tuk-tuk or a private taxi and combine your alms giving experience with a visit to the Doi Suteph mountain temple. To evade queues, avoid weekends and bank holiday days and head to the temple immediately following the alms giving ceremony. Once there, you can walk up the 309 steps between two colourful serpents or catch a cable car to reach the temple. Back in the bustling city, head for the temples Wat Pra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang.
For an unforgettable encounter with nature, venture to one of the region’s acclaimed elephant sanctuaries. You will be able to feed the elephants, trek through lush forest, savour a sumptuous lunch prepared by the locals, before taking a bath in the river with them under the watchful eyes of their keepers. For a deeper immersion, the Elephant Freedom Village offers accommodation, inviting travellers to partake in the rhythms of rural life.
No journey to Chiang Mai would be complete without a visit to the resplendent Wat Si Suphan silver temple.
