Popularly known as the Rose of the North, Chiang Mai is blessed
with stunning natural beauty and unique indigenous cultural
identity. Founded by King Mengrai the Great as the capital
of the Lanna Thai kingdom by merging the various city-states
in the region in 1296. Today Chiang Mai is the economic, communications,
cultural and tourism centre of Northern Thailand.
About 700 kilometres from Bangkok, Chiang Mai is situated
on the Mae Ping River basin some 310 metres above sea level.
Surrounded by high mountain ranges, it covers an area of
approximately 20,107 square kilometres. The terrain is mainly
jungles and mountains, parts of which are within national
parks which are still fertile and verdant with plentiful
flora and fauna. There are many sites and locations where
tourists prefer to visit to study the lifestyle of the tribal
people who live on high hills.
