What’s really very good about Thailand is that, despite the fact that I made some very last minute bookings, I ended up paying the same price that I had paid months earlier for my newly booked hotel in Chiang Rai and also for my flight from Chiang Rai to Bangkok. I was sad because I was going to miss Krabi, but it really made no sense to go there. The weather was absolutely superb in the northern part of Thailand.
ABOUT CHIANG RAI
Chiang Rai is 860km north of Bangkok and around 200km north-east of Chiang Mai. The Golden Triangle, a point where borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet, is 55km north-east of the city. Chiang Rai was established in 1262, as the capital city in the reign of King Mangrai. The Mae Kok River runs along Chiang Rai’s north side and joins the Mekong River some 40km north-east of the city.
Chiang Rai is much smaller than Chiang Mai and less popular as a tourist destination. There were foreign tourists in Chiang Rai too, but nowhere near in numbers in which their presence was visible in Chiang Mai.
In Chiang Mai, the highly developed tourist industry is right in your face. Certainly, there are tourist agencies in every street and on every corner of Chiang Mai. Touristic restaurants, bars, massage salons, souvenirs shops and also huge crowds of tourists are everywhere.
There was nothing like that in Chiang Rai, at least not at that level. Chiang Rai seemed like an authentic Thai city and I thoroughly enjoyed that aspect.
FROM CHIANG MAI TO CHIANG RAI
I travelled from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by bus. The distance between these two cities is not big. But it took over four hours to arrive to Chiang Rai.
I bought my bus ticket at the Chiang Mai bus station, several days before my travel date. You can also buy bus tickets in tourist agencies in the old town in Chiang Mai. The bus station is not far from the city centre, however be careful and allow plenty of time if you go there. That day when I went to purchase my ticket, it took over an hour to arrive to the station, because of a nearly static traffic. Otherwise, it took less than 10 minutes to get back to the centre, as there was almost no traffic coming back from the bus station.
MY HOTEL IN CHIANG RAI
The bus arrived to the Chiang Rai’s bus station, close to the Night Bazaar. From there, I took a tuk-tuk to the Nak Nakara hotel. It was a very good hotel, with a swimming pool. I also paid a very reasonable price, especially as I had booked it only two days earlier. If you plan to stay in Chiang Rai for several days, I would suggest that you check this hotel. It was comfortable, in a good location and the breakfast was excellent. Additionally, I walked from the hotel to the city centre.
HISTORIC SITES
So, I started my tour of the city by first visiting:
OLD CLOCK TOWER
The Old Clock Tower is next to the Kad Luang Market, where they sell fruit and vegetable products. There were also some food stalls, where they were preparing and cooking deliciously looking dishes, including various sea food products.
WAT MUNG MUANG
Constructed in 1839, Wat Mung Mung is immediately next to the market. It belongs to the Maha Nikai Buddhist monastic order.
You can see a very fat sitting Buddha in its courtyard.
CHIANG RAI CLOCK TOWER
The Thai artist, Chalermchai Kositpipat, designed and unveiled the clock tower in 2008, in honour of His Majesty the King. The golden clock tower is the work of art and it also serves as a traffic roundabout.
It’s an important landmark, especially in the evening when it’s beautifully illuminated.
WHITE TEMPLE
Wat Rong Khun or the White Temple is the most magnificent structure that I saw in Chiang Rai. It’s also the most impressive of everything that I saw in Thailand.
The White Temple is an art exhibit, in the style of a Buddhist temple. The artist, Chalermchai Kositpipat, designed it and constructed it in 1997. By the end of the 20th century, there were no available funds to repair the original, dilapidated Wat Rong Khun. So, Chalermchai Kositpipat decided to rebuild it with his own money.
This beautiful temple is a must see for everyone visiting Chiang Rai. You can also book a day excursion from Chiang Mai.
The temple is approximately 15km south-west from Chiang Rai. To get there, I took a tuk-tuk from my hotel. The driver waited for me for one hour and then he took me to my next destination. The entrance is free for Thais, but foreigners have to pay 50 baht to enter.
BLUE TEMPLE
Wat Rong Suea Ten or the Blue Temple is a new temple, built in 2005. Its blue and gold colours and artistically decorated walls and ceilings make this temple unique.
But there is no public transport that can take you to this temple. To get there, you have to take either a tuk-tuk or a taxi and it’s only a short ride from the city centre.
Additionally, arrange with the driver to wait for you. There is almost nothing around the temple and it may be difficult to find transport back to the city. But if that happens, don’t despair!
It’s also possible to walk back from the temple, although it will probably take you around an hour to arrive to the centre.
The temple complex is not big and 20-30 minutes are sufficient to see everything properly.
WAT PHRA KAEW
Wat Phra Kaew is a royal temple, famous throughout Thailand. The Emerald Buddha was discovered in this temple in 1434, after the lightning struck a chedi where it was kept.
The King of Thailand elevated it to the royal status in 1978. It is one of the main centres of the Buddhist education and also the most important temple in the province.
WAT KLANG WIANG
Wat Klang Wiang is one of the most ornate temples in Chiang Rai. Every structure in the temple complex is richly decorated. The temple probably dates back to the 15th century, however most structures were built during the 20th century.
NIGHT MARKET
The Night Market is not far from the city centre. To get there, look for Phaholyothin Road, where you will easily find the market entrance. This market is much smaller than the night market in Chiang Mai. There weren’t huge crowds of people everywhere and it was much easier to see what’s on offer. You will find stalls selling usual souvenirs. After a while, you realise that the same stuff is sold in all markets across Thailand.
There is a large, open space eating area. The front part is a stage, where local artists play and sing Thai songs. Two long rows of food stalls occupy the right and the left side of the square. You can buy delicious and cheap northern Thai dishes there. Tables and chairs are in the central part of the square, where you can sit down to eat.
In my opinion, this is the best place for an evening meal in Chiang Rai, if it’s OK for you to eat street food. The food I had was excellent and I tried many different things. Everything was freshly cooked in front of me. There was also a kiosk selling beer, water and other non-alcoholic drinks.
If you travel to north Thailand, make a stop in Chiang Rai, at least for a day or two. I am sure that you will enjoy it.
You will also have the opportunity to see the White Temple which, in my opinion, was the the most memorable thing that I saw in Thailand. You will also be able to try some exquisitely delicious Thai food.
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