Historic Overview Of Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai, though only a fortieth of the size of Bangkok, is nearly 500 years older than the country’s capital. Chiang Mai was founded in the hills of northern Thailand during the late 13th century, and was established as the capital of Lanna, one of the first independent kingdoms of Thailand. Lanna was later overshadowed by the consecutive rise of the kingdoms of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya and this caused Chiang Mai to recede into relative obscurity. It remained more or less a backwater until a few years ago, when tourism necessitated a rejuvenation of the city. Chiang Mai has since developed in terms of infrastructure and is an interesting mix of the old and the new- part of the old quarter still has old wooden houses, quiet gardens and a moat around the town wall, while the modern sector of the town is bustling and busy.