"Remote Hilltribe Village"
It is Thailand's northernmost province. It's area, which is mostly covered with mountains, is almost 12,000sq km. Chiang Rai is situated some 62 miles north of Chiang Mai and 500 miles north of Bangkok. Chiang Rai, gateway to the Golden Triangle, standing on the bank of the Kok river, which is about 130 kilometers long.
The city was founded in 1262 A.D. by King Mengrai, whose statue can be easily seen on the way to Mae Chan. It used to be the capital of Lanna Kingdom and later was conquered by Myanmar. It was not until 1786 that Chiang Rai has become Thai territory and proclaimed a province during the reign of King Rama VI in 1910 A.D.
It is well worth visiting for its extraordinarily beautiful scenery and makes a convenient center from which to explore the country closes by. Several interesting northern Thailand towns are easily accessible. Also, the neighboring highlands are populated by hill tribes such as the Akha, Lisu, and Meo, still Largely untainted by Civilization. Colorfully attired hill tribesmen and women are a feature of local markets where they come to sell their wares. Most visitors come in from Chiang Mai via Tha Ton by road or boat and use the town as a base for visiting hill tribe or border towns.
|
