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Cover Chiang Rai Eng nt.indd 1 12/28/10 4:25:11 PM Useful Calls Public Relations Office Tel: 0 5371 1870 Provincial Office Tel: 0 5371 1123 Chiang Rai District Office Tel: 0 5375 2177, 0 5371 1288 Chiang Rai Hospital Tel: 0 5371 1300 Mueang Chiang Rai District Police Station Tel: 0 5371 1444 Highway Police Tel: 1193 Tourist Police Tel: 0 5371 7779, 1155 Immigration Tel: 0 2287 3101-10 Mae Sai Immigration Tel: 0 5373 1008-9 Chiang Saen Immigration Tel: 0 5379 1330 Meteorological Department Tel: 1182 Tourism and Sports Office Tel: 0 5371 6519 Chiang Rai Tourism Association Tel: 0 5360 1299 TAT Tourist Information Centers Tourism Authority of Thailand Head Office 1600 Phetchaburi Road, Makkasan, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400 Tel: 0 2250 5500 (automatic 120 lines) Fax: 0 2250 5511 E-mail: [email protected] www.tourismthailand.org Ministry of Tourism and Sports 4 Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10100 8.30 a.m.-4.30 p.m. everyday TAT Chiang Rai 448/16 Singhakhlai Road, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Rai, Chiang Rai 57000 Tel: 0 5371 7433, 0 5374 4674-5 Fax: 0 5371 7434 E-mail: [email protected] Areas of Responsibility: Chiang Rai, Phayao King Mengrai the Great Memorial Cover Chiang Rai Eng nt.indd 2 12/28/10 3:49:27 PM 003-066 Chiang Rai nt.indd 2 12/25/10003-066 2:46:22 Chiang PM Rai nt.indd 67 12/25/10 9:58:54 AM CONTENTS HOW TO GET THERE 5 ATTRACTIONS 7 Amphoe Mueang Chiang Rai 7 Amphoe Mae Lao 12 Amphoe Mae Chan 13 Amphoe Mae Sai 15 Amphoe Mae Fa Luang 16 Amphoe Chiang Saen 19 Amphoe Chiang Khong 22 Amphoe Wiang Kaen 23 Amphoe Thoeng 23 Amphoe Phan 24 Amphoe Mae Suai 25 Amphoe Wiang Pa Pao 27 EVENTS & FESTIVALS 30 LOCAL PRODUCTS 31 INTERESTING ACTIVITIES 32 Trekking 32 Travel along Kok River 32 Golf Courses 32 Agrotourism 33 Spa/ Traditional Thai Massage 34 Mineral Water Bath 35 Homestay 35 Horse Riding 36 Example of Tour Programme 36 FACILITIES IN CHIANG RAI 39 Accommodation 39 Restaurant 58 Travel Agent 63 USEFUL CALLS 67 003-066 Chiang Rai nt.indd 3 12/25/10 3:13:32 PM 4 Golden Triangle Chiang Rai 003-066 Chiang Rai nt.indd 4 12/25/10 3:13:37 PM 5 Thai Term Glossary Amphoe: District Ban: Village Chedi: Stupa or Pagoda Khao or Doi or Phu: Mountain Khlong: Canal Ko: Island Mueang: Town or City Namtok: Waterfall Tambon: Sub-district Tham: Cave Ubosot or Bot: ordination hall in a temple Viharn: Image hall in a temple Wat: Temple Note: English spelling here given tries to approximate Thai pronunciation. Posted signs may be differently. When seeking help from a Thai for directions, point to the Thai spellings given after each place name. The Province is rich in tourism resources in term of natural attractions and antiquities, evidence of its past civilization. It is also home to several hilltribes who follow fascinating ways of life. The northernmost province of Thailand, Chiang Rai is situated on the Kok River basin 416 metres above sea level. With an area of some 11,678 square kilometres. It is about 785 kilometres from Bangkok. Mostly mountainous, it reaches the Mae Khong River to the north and borders on both Myanmar and Laos. The province is rich in tourism resources in term of natural attractions and antiquities, evidence of its past civilisation. It is also home to several hilltribes who follow fascinating ways of life. Chiang Rai is also a tourism gateway into Myanmar and Laos. HOW TO GET THERE Car From Bangkok drive on highway No.32 to Singburi, then take highway No.11 to Phare and highway No.1103 to Chiang Rai. The route is 829 kilometres. Bus The 12 hour journey from Bangkok can be made on air-conditioned coaches originating from Northern Bus Terminal daily call 0 2936 2852-66 www.transport.co.th. Private bus operated by Bor Kho Sor Co., Ltd. Call 0 2936 3670, 0 5371 1369, 0 5375 4097/ Chok Rung Tawee Tour call 0 2936 4275-6, 0 5371 4045/ Siam First 003-066 Chiang Rai nt.indd 5 12/25/10 3:13:37 PM 6 Tour call 0 2954 3601-4, 0 5371 9064, 0 5371 4386 / Sombat Tour 0 2936 2495, 0 5371 4971, 0 5371 5884 www.sombattour.com There are services from Chiang Rai bus terminal to various districts in Chiang Rai. Local bus ply nearby provinces, call Chiang Rai bus terminal 0 5371 1224, 0 5371 1154 for details. Rail The State Railway of Thailand operates daily services from Hua Lamphong Railway station, Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Then catch a local bus further from Arcade Bus terminal, Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. For train information call 1690, 0 2220 4444 www.railway.co.th or Chiang Mai Railway Station 0 5324 2094, 0 5324 4795 Air There are many direct flights from Bangkok to Chiang Rai every day by; -Thai Air Asia Tel: 0 2515 9999, 0 5379 8275-6 www.airasia.com -Orient Thai Airlines Tel: 1126, 0 2267 2999, 0 2229 4260, 0 5379 3555 www.fly12go.com -Thai Airways Tel: 0 2356 1111, 0 5371 1179, 0 5379 8202-3 www.thaiairways.com Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai Route is operated by; -SGA Airlines Tel: 0 2664 6099, 0 5379 8244 www.sga.co.th -Nok Air Tel: 0 2900 9955, 1318 www.nokair.com Chiang Rai Airport Tel: 0 5379 8000, 0 5379 8170 Distances from Mueang Chiang Rai to neighboring districts Wiang Chai 12 Kilometres Mae Lao 15 Kilometres Mae Chan 20 Kilometres Wiang Chiang Rung 24 Kilometres Phan 46 Kilometres Phaya Mengrai 48 Kilometres Pa Daet 52 Kilometres Mae Suai 53 Kilometres Doi Luang 57 Kilometres Khun Tan 60 Kilometres Chiang Saen 60 Kilometres Mae Sai 63 Kilometres Thoeng 64 Kilometres Mae Fa Luang 65 Kilometres Wiang Pa Pao 91 Kilometres Wiang Kaen 127 Kilometres Chiang Khong 141 Kilometres 003-066 Chiang Rai nt.indd 6 12/25/10 3:13:37 PM 7 ATTRACTIONS Amphoe Mueang Chiang Rai King Mengrai the Great Memorial (อนุสาวรียพอขุนเม็งรายมหาราช) is located in the town on the intersection leading to Mae Chan. Originally, King Mengrai was the ruler of Nakhon Hiran Ngoen Yang (an ancient town on the bank of the Mae Khong around Chiang Saen) before Chiang Rai was established as the administrative centre in 1262. He consolidated his power by merging the different city in the North and founded the Lanna Thai Kingdom in 1296 with Chiang Mai as the capital. King Mengrai Stupa (กูพระเจาเม็งราย) in front of Wat Ngam Mueang atop Doi Ngam Mueang in Mueang district was built by King Chaisongkram to contain the remains of his father (King Mengrai). Wat Phra Sing (วัดพระสิงห) is located near the townhall used to house a major Buddha statue, the Phra Buddha Sihing which is now enshrined in Chiang Mai. A special feature is the Lanna-style Ubosot and the wooden door panels carved by Chiang Rai contemporary craftsmen. Tel: 0 5374 5038 Wat Phra Kaeo (วัดพระแกว), situated on Trairat Road, was one of Thailand’s most important Buddha statue discovered in 1444. The statue had been moved by various state rulers to be placed in their respective capitals as a symbol of dominance, including Lampang, Chiang Rai and Vientiane before finally enshrined in Bangkok’s Wat Phra Kaeo during the reign of King Rama I of the Rattanakosin period. Tel: 0 5371 8533 Wat Rong Khun (วัดรองขุน) is located at Ban Rong Khun, Tambon Pa O Don Chai, along Phahonyothin roadside at Km. 816, approximately 13 km. from the city. This temple was designed and built by Achan Chaloemchai Khositphiphat. A white ordination hall - Phra Ubosot - is decorated with silver glittering pieces of mirrors. There are large mural paintings of the Lord Buddha in different gestures. A gable - is decorated with a gable apex, a leaf-shaped gable-edging - in the shapes of Phya Naga, dragon and mythical creatures, which are entirely made of white stucco. There are viharn, small hall for recitation surrounded the ordination hall, museum, reception pavilion. The gallery exhibits paintings of Achan Chaloemchai Khositphiphat. Posters, drawing albums and T-shirts are available. The earnings will contribute to the fund for building the temple. It opens daily at 8.00 a.m. - 5.30 p.m. Please call Tel: 0 5367 3579 Fax: 0 5367 3539 www.watrongkhun.com 003-066 Chiang Rai nt.indd 7 12/25/10 3:13:37 PM 8 Wat Rong Khun Wat Phrathat Chom Sak (วัดพระธาตุจอมสัก) or formerly known as Wat Phrathat Doi Ban Yang is located in Tambon Ban Du. The temple was built in the period of Yonok Chaiyaburi Si Chiang Saen. During the reign of Phrachao Phangkharat, the 24th king of the Yonok Dynasty, a senior monk named Phra Phutthakhosachan from Koson district in Suthammawadi city brought 16 pieces of the Lord Buddha’s relics from then Ceylon and gave them to the king. King Phangkharat had a royal command to divide the relics into 3 portions to be enshrined separately at Phrathat (pagoda) Chom Thong, Phrathat Chom Kitti, 003-066 Chiang Rai nt.indd 8 12/25/10 3:13:40 PM 9 and Phrathat Doi Ban Yang. In 1947, Phra Khruba Khamla Sangwaro presided over the renovation of Phrathat Doi Ban Yang. A new pagoda was built to cover the old one, together with a Wihan, teakwood Buddha image hall on stilts. The temple name was later changed to Phrathat Chom Sak.