Back from my road trip in Thailand and Laos, and after recently telling you about my accommodation in Chiang Mai, I am writing this article to help you discover this city.
Even if Thailand was not the main goal of our trip, we decided to go there and thus spend a few days there on the occasion of the famous lantern festival in the city: Loy Kratong. A festival that takes place over 4 days with, in particular, an evening of lanterns which I will tell you about a little later.
These few days in the city also gave us the opportunity to visit Chiang Mai, its temples as well as the many streets of the old city.
Festival des lanternes: Loy Kratong
First of all let me tell you about the main reason that brought us to Chiang Mai: Loy Krathong
Indeed most of our trip was to take place in Laos, yet we decided to make this detour via Chiang Mai for 4 days. The main reason is that our trip to South East Asia coincided perfectly with one of the most popular holidays in Thailand: Loy Krathong.
Loy Krathong is a very popular holiday in Thailand as well as other countries in South East Asia. Originally, tradition wanted Krathongs, small rafts made from banana wood, to float on the water in order to thank and honor the gods. These small rafts are often made of banana leaves and look like water lilies. They are decorated with a candle, flowers and incense sticks. The floating lantern release is still a tradition today.
Now that you know what this holiday is about, let’s see why it is so popular in Chiang Mai. Indeed, these festivities, which take place most of the time in November (at the time of the 12th full moon of the year), spread over about 5 days. Many parties and ceremonies take place throughout the city, especially on the opening night of the festivities which take place in the main square “Three Kings Monument”. Many lanterns hang from wooden porticos in the square.
The main event of the festival takes place the next day, the famous lantern release. During an evening and part of the night, thousands of lanterns are dropped across the city. A unique event that should not be missed under any circumstances. The city is swarmed with a compact crowd, and everyone buys their lanterns from one of the many vendors on the street. During these few hours it is an uninterrupted flow of lanterns which fly in the sky. The main place where people meet for this lantern release is along the Ping River, especially near the “Nawarat” bridge. This lantern release only takes place one evening, although the next day, many people continue to release lanterns.
The Chiang Mai Lantern Festival is a magical moment, the city is almost entirely decorated with lanterns and candles positioned everywhere, especially along the ramparts.
Chiang Mai is its temples
The city of Chiang Mai is famous for its large number of temples. Indeed, stroll through the streets of Chiang Maï and you will not be able to miss the temples which are there almost on every street corner of the old city. Come in, visit some of these temples. The calm of these literally contrasts with the atmosphere that reigns in the streets of the city. Take off your shoes and open the doors of the temples to discover the interior. Always richly decorated, statutes of Buddha are enthroned in the center of Thai temples. You will most certainly meet there bonzes getting down to various tasks such as cleaning the surroundings of the temple.
I take you to discover two temples in particular, these are located outside the city, the first is Wat Umong.
Wat Umong is located approximately 4 kilometers from the historic city center. The temple is nestled in a forest and has the particularity of having underground galleries in which are placed hotels with statutes of Buddha. The temple has an impressive stone pagoda.
The second temple where I take you, certainly the most famous of Chiang Mai, is located a little further, about fifteen kilometers from the city, on the heights of the surrounding hills: Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep
How do I get to Doi Suthep?
The easiest and most economical solution (apart from walking there) is to take a Song Taew, a kind of shared taxi where you are crammed into the back of a pick up with a roof! Not very comfortable, I grant you, especially on the winding roads that lead you to the top of Doi Suthep. This is taken at two specific places, either at the North Gate or at the Chiang Mai Zoo.
For the return, two solutions, either you have negotiated the return with this Song Taew, this one will therefore wait for you, approximately 1 hour 30, or you will take one of the many other Song Taew who are waiting for the tourists in order to accompany them back by city.
This temple is one of the largest but also the most beautiful in the city. Located on the heights, it offers you a breathtaking view of Chiang Maï and its surroundings.
Where to eat in Chiang Mai?
Street Food :
What is Street-Food? This is very common in Thailand and you will not be able to miss it if you leave your home after 5 pm. Street food is tiny kiosks (a kind of mini food-truck) on which people cook. Even if you will find it in many places, two places are particularly recommended for a wide choice: The northern door of Chiand MaÎ, the Night Food Market, or the Night Market located to the east of the old town, between the latter and the Ping.
Looking for a good restaurant?
In Chiang Mai there is not only Street Food, on the contrary. According to the TripAdvisor site, Chiang Mai is even home to the best restaurant in the country, the 5th best in Asia! This restaurant, we tested it: David’s Kitchen
David’s Kitchen restaurant is located about 4 kilometers from the historic center. The setting of the restaurant is magnificent, in a modern and worked style. The entrance to the restaurant is surprising, you will not be able to miss its many “TripAdvisor” rewards on display.
On the menu, the tone is quickly set with the names of dishes that will instantly make you salivate! The cuisine is French even if it is, for many dishes, slightly revisited. I let myself be tempted by one of the most famous dishes of our dear country: boeuf bourguignon! Who would have thought that it was possible to eat such a good French dish thousands of kilometers from France!
More information about David’s Kitchen
Where to sleep in Chiang Mai?
Several possibilities for sleeping in Chiang Mai, the historic center of course, which will allow you to be close to many places of interest, temples, restaurants, cafes, etc.
It is also possible to take a hotel outside the old town, in the east first of all, in the more modern areas of the city but also in the west where we decided to stay at the hotel. Mahabhirom from Chiang Mai which I recently told you about.
Hope this Chiang Mai tour helps you in your Chiang Mai travel arrangements! A very pleasant city that I recommend to you.
