Speciality Museums • Historic Sites
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Historic Sites in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chiang Mai Historic Sites
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11 places sorted by traveler favorites
Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings
Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
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Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Historic Sites • Ancient Ruins
Historic Sites • Ancient Ruins
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Historic Sites • Ancient Ruins
What travelers are saying
- Tote919Bangkok, Thailand5,606 contributionsThis is a golden ancient pagoda (aound 1,300 years old) located on a small hill in Chiang Mai, overlooking the town. Very serene and elegant.Written January 30, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- melkeetIpoh, Malaysia1,361 contributionsBhubing Palace is a royal winter residence built to accommodate the royal family during their visits to Chiang Mai. We reached here, as part of a taxi tour of Wat Doi Suthep, and other temples on the west of the Chiang Mai Old Town. It is about 6km from Wat Doi Suthep. Entry to the place is by purchase of a ticket priced at 50Baht. You must be properly attired, shoulders covered and with long pants, or you may be given a pants to cover up before entry to the compound.
There are a number of buildings here. There is a log cabin which is the seasonal residence of the royal princess, a eucalyptus wood log cabin which is the seasonal residence of crown prince, a two storey royal Guesthouse, a teak wood pavilion, a fern garden, and a water reservoir. The gardens with various flowering plants, including roses are well landscaped, well maintained, clean quiet and peaceful away from noise. There are sign boards explaining the various buildings here. We were there in the morning, and the weather was pleasant due to the elevation and the surroundings. We spent about one and a half hours, here to look around and capture some pictures. Our visit here was worthwhile.Written December 30, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Michael PChiang Rai, Thailand5,260 contributionsNestled in rolling green hills of Mae Rim District, an easy drive from Chiang Mai City, there are actually two Hmong villages here. Mae Sa Noi is the first village one arrives at from highway 1096 and is the location of the “Community Product[s] Center” a fantastic workshop where the locals produce clothing and accessories using traditional materials and techniques. The Hmong of Chiang Mai Province still grow hemp and painstakingly produce woven cloth from the plant's fibrous stalks. The hemp cloth is then colored using natural dyes produced from the indigo plant and other native species. The cloth is then decorated using a batik technique that uses natural bee’s wax.
I was fortunate to arrive in the village as the Sunday service at Mae Sa Noi church was ending. Many of Thailand’s “Hill-People” are Christian having been converted by missionaries. Sundays are a good day to visit villages as many of the locals put on their best traditional costumes to attend the services. I was invited to eat with the congregation and gladly accepted as I never turn down a free meal and I do enjoy Hmong food; it is quite different from Thai cuisine. In return for the hospitality, I purchased a lovely wallet sort-of-thing from the community products center.
After lunch and shopping, I took a stroll through Mae Sa Mai a fairly typical rural village where visitors will see some examples of traditional Hmong architecture. Hmong homes are easy to recognize; they are simple single-story dwellings built of wood (or clay) with rammed earth (dirt) floors.
Completing my exploration of the villages, I drove up in the mountains above both villages, where the homestays are located, and had another wander. The people here are actually quite friendly as Hmong folks tend to be. As previously mentioned, these villages are fairly authentic, not particularly touristy and I highly recommend a visit as part of a Mae Rim District outing.
Did I mention that these are Hmong villages? There are no Kayan (long-neck Karen) people or elephants living here. The reviews that suggest otherwise are simply incorrect.Written October 22, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - HINA WIslamabad, Pakistan6,322 contributionsPratu Chiang Mai is located in the centre of the south side if the city wall. It was constructed on the moat by King Mangrai in 1296 when he established the city of Chiang Mai here. The gate was reconstructed twice first time in 1800’s and second time in 1900’s. Currently there is a food market here with fresh food, cooked dishes and snack, drinks and packaged food stalls. The most famous ones are Mrs. Pa’s Smoothies, Jeeup’s Coffee Build, Sticky Rice with Mango, Kanome Kroke. Every Saturday this area magically transforms into a Walking Street Market which attracts both locals and foreigners.Written December 26, 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Traveller87987687Bangkok, Thailand3,110 contributionsThe ruins of the Katam Corner are nice, but nothing special to visit. They are on the south-east corner of the Old Town.
I recommend to combine it with visiting Buak Hard Public Park, located at the other end of the southern moat. Then come back to see Chiang Mai Gate and finally have dinner at Bumrung Buri Market, which is right next to Chiang Mai Gate, on the south end of the Old Town, next to the moat.
Combine these four little things and you have enough destinations for a nice little afternoon/evening stroll that ends with a great (and inexpensive) meal at Bumrung Buri Market.Written October 5, 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Jason SMelbourne, Australia1,317 contributionsLove these types of places to visit when overseas you get a real look into local way of life.
Some of the food is out there to eat but if you have an adventurous palate then you will love this place.Written December 23, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - HINA WIslamabad, Pakistan6,322 contributionsThis fortification can be seen at the north west corner of Chiang Mai old city. Initially water from the river Haui Kaeo was fed into the city. Then the bastion was built over it around 1800 BC. It was called Hua Lin which means the “Head of an Aqueduct”.Written May 23, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- HINA WIslamabad, Pakistan6,322 contributionsThis fortification ruins are located on the south west corner of Chiang Mai old city. Unfortunately in 1950s a fire destroyed majority of the walls and gates, so the gates were reconstructions. Traces of the castle walls can be found on the corners. An interesting tale is told by the locals about this fort. They relate that a very rich but cruel king used to rule Chiang Mai. One day a man named Hueang was caught trying to steal somethings from the king’s treasure. He was executed and buried at this place.Written May 23, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Phi SomchaiBangkok, Thailand3,703 contributionsThis is one of the four gates of the historical old town. It is also known as the Western gate. We passed by it frequently but nothing very interesting.Written April 28, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- HINA WIslamabad, Pakistan6,322 contributionsJaeng Sri Poom or Phum is located in the northeast corner of the old city. Jaeng means ‘fort’ and Sri(lee) poom means ‘Light of the Land’. This is a historical corner of the old city as it was the place where the construction of the city wall was started by King Mangrai more than 700 years ago. Legend goes that there used to be a huge Banyan tree nearby which gave this point highly auspicious. Hence in order to be more powerful the king chose this point. The tree is long gone. There was a fire that ravaged the old city and the Sri Phum bastion was rebuilt by King Kawila. You can see an interesting shrine called San Lak Muang Jaeng Sri Phum near the fort.Written May 23, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- HINA WIslamabad, Pakistan6,322 contributionsThis gate is located on the south west side of the fortification next to the moat. It was not a part of the initial walls and gates built in the 13th century. It was constructed about a century later when the queen at that time,Phra Rajathevee, refused to dwell within the inner city and had a palace built in the Suan Ra district. The queen used to use this gate regularly as she was getting the Chedi Luang constructed. Much later this gate’s name evolved from "Suan Ra" to "Suan Prung". Suan means a garden or thrusting a spear and Pung means belly. The rebels used to be executed here by spears. This gate was also used to carry the dead out of the inner city to the crematorium outside.Written January 1, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions about Chiang Mai
- These places are best for historic sites in Chiang Mai:
- Wat Phra That Doi Kham (Temple of the Golden Mountain)
- Fort of Ka-Tham
- Chiang Mai Gate
- Bhubing Palace
- Pratu Chiang Mai