Chang Mai Temple, Thailand. Wat Phra Singh

If Bangkok is the financial and tourist center of the country, then Chiang Mai is cultural and intellectual. There are more than 300 Buddhist temples, the oldest of which date back to the 13th century. But the main thing that attracts tourists to Chiang Mai is not even the excellent examples of medieval Thai architecture, but the unique atmosphere, friendly and relaxed. People come here to see the numerous ancient temples and stupas, to admire the lush nature of northern Thailand and to get acquainted with the customs of the small nations of the country, in general to fully experience the flavor of Southeast Asia in its least tourist manifestation.

Wat Phra Singh is the largest and most significant wat in the city. It is located on the main street, which passes directly into the vast temple site, which was once the center of the settlement. Phra Singh was laid in 1345 by King Pha Yu, the ashes of his father rest in a large chedi behind the Vihan.

The temples of Chiang Mai are the main attractions of the northern capital of Thailand - the city of Chiang Mai, located in the center of the old city in the form of a square mandala, surrounded by walls and a deep canal, and beyond.

The most ancient temple of Chiang Mai - Wat Phra Singh. Like many other Thai temples, it consists of several pavilions decorated with wall paintings and carvings. The temple is named for the sacred statue of the Buddha stored here, Phra Singh. According to local residents, she was brought to Chiang Mai from India via Sri Lanka in the middle of the 14th century.

Independent tourists and backpackers like to come to "wintering" in Chiang Mai, since life is much cheaper here than in the south of Thailand, and its convenient location allows you to make short trips with excursions to neighboring Laos and Burma. The best way to explore the city is to rent a bike and slowly drive around all the temples, markets and picturesque surroundings of the city. A free map of the city is issued in almost all hotels or guesthouses.

If you are limited in time, try to book a guided tour of the main sights of the city in one of the many tourist offices. The list of required places to visit usually includes the temples of Wat Phra Doi Suthep, Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang, the ruins of the old city of Viang Kum Kam and the city market Talat Warorot.

The temples of Chiang Mai are located throughout the city of Chiang Mai, and there are more than 300 of them altogether, and the vast majority of them are Buddhist. It seems that the most important should be in the heart of the old city. And yes, two of them can actually be found right in the center - these are Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh.

But no less important and landmark for the history of the city temples are located in different parts of the square and beyond, including the most ancient temple of Chiang Mai - Wat Chiang Man. And many of them are built at a sufficient distance from the walls, like Wat Umong, or on a nearby high hill, like Wat Pratat Doi Suthep.The oldest surviving temples of Chiang Mai were built in the XIII and XIV century, which makes them much older than the main attractions and temples of Bangkok. And Chiang Mai itself is one of the most interesting places in the world that are definitely worth a visit.

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