Route1
Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden |
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This botanical garden,
which covers a mountainous area of 560 acres, is located around Km.
12 along the Mae Rim-Samoeng route. This international botanical garden
with a fine collection of Thai and foreign plants exhibited according
to species and climate was established in 1992 to honor Queen Sirikit. |
| Mae Rim
Orchid and Butterfly Farm |
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This plantation has been established
for over 20 years and is famous for breeding a variety of species
of orchids using appropriate technology. In addition to learning about
orchid breeding, it is also possible to learn about various butterfly
species. |
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Route2
Huai Hong Khrai Royal Development Study Center |
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Huai Hong Khrai Royal Development
Study Center is situated in the area of "Pa Khun Mae Kuang"
National Reserved Forest covering and area of approximately 8,500
rai (1,360 hectares). Pa Khun Mae Kuang is a forest with mixed deciduous
in the northern part suitable for conservation study as watershed
area in the central and southern sections, there are deteriorate forest
suitable for the study of agricultural development. |
| Bo Sang
& San Kamphaeng |
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Bo Sang & San Kamphaeng
route is the most famous route for those in search of excellent handicrafts.
On both sides of San Kamphaeng Road, are showrooms and factories where
you can see how the products including silk, cotton, lacquer ware,
ceramics, silverware, leather ware, umbrellas, woodcarvings and antiques
are actually produced.
Bor Sang - the world famous village which sells cotton umbrellas and
paper parasols hand painted in wide varieties of floral and animals
designs. Bor Sang (which translates into umbrella) was once a tiny
village where generations of families engaged in umbrella and parasol
making, labouring beneath their raised teak houses to craft bamboo,
string and sah paper (made from the bark of the mulberry tree) into
marvels of engineering. Today, the production has become an industry
but the umbrellas are still made by hand and tourists from all around
the world make a stop here to admire and buy the crafts. |
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Route3
Ban Roi An Phan Yang |
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A privately owned 4-stories
museum and arts collection displaying wood carving in Chiangmai Province.
This amazing and unbelievable place is located on the Chiangmai –
Sanpatong highway between kilometers 19 and 20. The museum is a traditional
Lanna - style house containing a large collection of valuable and
very hard to find wood carvings from small to large sizes which were
made by local carvers.
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| Ban Tawai |
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Woodcarving is a traditional
northern Thai art featured in numerous temples. This tradition has
been passed on for generations so it can be preserved in different
ways. Furniture carving is considered one way of preservation. Teak,
rosewood and rattan are being crafted both in traditional and modern
designs. Woodcarving products range from gracing screens, chairs,
tables, beds, to carved elephants, figurines and tableware. You can
easily find them in shops located in San Kamphaeng and Ban Tawai (apparently
Thailand’s woodcarving capital). |
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Route4
Wat Phratat Doi Suthep |
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Locals would say, “You haven’t
really gone to Chiang Mai unless you’ve been to Wat Phratat Doi Suthep”.
Truly, the place is the most important and famous Chiang Mai landmark.
Built in 1383, this mountaintop temple has a chedi (pagoda) that houses
holy Buddha relics. The gold-plated chedi lies in the middle of a
square marble-tiled courtyard. The four corners of the chedi are adorned
with parasols which represent royal regalia. The temple’s courtyard
is lined by a cloister, which contains images and murals depicting
Buddha’s life. There are also two viharns situated in the middle of
the east and west sides of the cloister. This temple is 15 kilometers
from town and is 3,520 feet above sea level. It is the perfect place
to get a bird’s eye view of the city. The temple can be reached via
a steep Naga staircase comprised of 290 steps or railcars. |
| Phuping
Palace |
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After Doi Suthep, the road continues
to climb through pine forest to Phuping Palace on Doi Buak Ha, 22
kms from town. Phuping Palace, built in 1962, is a summer residence
of the royal family, used as headquarters for overseeing development
projects in northern Thai and hilltribe villages. Phuping Palace is
a beautiful place full of flowers, a lot of trees and places to walk. |
| Doi Pui
Village |
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A 'seelor' (red pick-up converted
in local taxi) will continue for about 3Km to the Hmong tribal village
of Doi Pui - which will give you vignettes of modern hilltribe life.
Of interest in the village are also the Opium Museum and the Hilltribe
Museum. For centuries, the tribe has been an opium grower of importance.
The Opium Museum documents how the crop is cultivated and processed,
and displays some of the implements used in opium production. The
Hilltribe Museum exhibits those used in the Hmong daily life. |