Chiang Rai
The northern most provincial capital in Thailand is Chiang Rai and is situated 730 km from Bankgok and is 580 metres above sea level in the middle of a fantastic mountainous region.
To the south lies The Mae Nam Kok River a tributary of the mighty Mekong River.
Chiang Rai was first established by Lan Na King Mengrai in 1262 on a historic Lawa-Hmong settlement and went on to become the Kingdom of a million rice fields.
In 1786 King Phra Phuttayodfa Chulalok (Rama I.) claimed Chiang Rai as part of Thailand once again and in 1910 King Vajiravudh (Rama VI.) declared Chiang Rai to be an independent Thai state.
Chiang Rai can be considered the smaller sister of Chiang Mai; the tiny metropolis is home to many romantic temples, age old markets and a lot of typical Asian flair which you’d expect to find.
One of the interesting things about this town is its surroundings.
Outlaying villages of Chiang Kai-sheks Kuomintang army, bizarre mountain formations, sleepy villages where the hill tribes live, a gigantic white temple that looks like a snowy fairytale castle and neighbouring Burma with its small charming border town, Tachilek also known as "City of the Golden Triangle".
