The northern region of Thailand is mainly mountainous
with dense jungles. It is also the sources of several important
rivers including the Ping, Wang, Yom and Nan, which converge into
the mighty Chao Praya at Nakorn Sawan. Because of its fertile
soil, farming flourishes. The North has been the location of many
ancient civilisations and today remains fairly populous.
CHIANG MAI
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, 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.
Attraction Places
CHIANG RAI
The northernmost province of Thailand, Chiang Rai is
situated on the Kok River basin 416 metres above sea level. It
is about 785 kilometres from Bangkok. Mostly mountainous. It reaches
the Mae Khong River to the north and borders on both Myanmar and
Laos. The province is rich I tourism resources in term of natural
attractions and antiquities, evidence of its past civilisation.
It is also home to several hilltribes who follow fascinating ways
of life. Chiang Rai is also a tourism gateway into Myanmar and
Laos.
Attraction Places
KAMPHAENG PHET
Geographically located in the lower north on the bank of the
Ping River, Kamphaeng Phet is 358 kilometres from Bangkok. To
its East are riverine flatlands while the western areas are made
up of high mountains lush with fertile forests where a number
of national parks have been established.
Attraction Places
LAMPANG
Famous for its horse-down carriages and with a rooster
as its provincial emblem, Lampang boasts a long history of human
settlements on the Wang River basin, some of which dating back
to more than 1,000 years. It is rich in archaeological evidence
reflecting ancient civilisations of Hariphunchai, Lanna and
Myanmar.
Attraction Places
LAMPHUN
Legend handed down for more than 1,400 years refer to this ancient town as Hariphunchai.
Its first ruler was Queen Chamthewi who was of Mon extraction. In late 12 th
century, King Mengrai overran the town and subsequently integrated it into the
Lanna Kingdom. Today, Lamphun still retain its enchanting ambience of a small
but old community.
Attraction Places
MAE HONG SON
Nestled in a deep valley hemmed in by high mountain
ranges. Mae Hong Son has long been isolated from the outside
world. Virtually covered with mist throughout the year, the
name refers to the fact that is terrain is highly suitable for
the training of elephants. Fomer governors of Chiang Mai used
to organise the rounding up of wild elephants which were then
trained before being sent to the capital for work. Today Mae
Hong Son is one of the “dream destination” for visitors who
are attracted by its cultural and natural wonders.
Attraction Places
NAKHON SAWAN
A Province is the lower North some 240 kilometres
from Bangkok, Nakhon Sawan is also known as Park Nam Pho, the
merging point of the four rivers, Ping, Wang, Yom and Nan, forming
Chao Phraya. Because of its strategic location. Nakhon Sawan
has been a major inland port town major trading centre for paddy
of the country.
Attraction
Places
NAN
A quiet and tranquil province, Nan nestles in a verdant
valley in northern Thailand. About 668 kilometres from Bangkok.
The people of Nan descend from the Lan Changs (Laotians). Their
forebears moved to settle around present day Pua district which
is rich in rock salt deposits, about 700 years ago at the time
when Sukhothai was becoming the kingdom of the Thais. They subsequently
moved south to the fertile Nan River basin which is much more
extensive. Nan’s history is deeply involved with its neighbours,
in particular Sukhothai which played an important role in both
political and religious terms before Nan became a part of Lanna,
Burma and Thailand in that order. Today Nan is still the home
of numerous Thai Lu and other hilltribes who retain highly interesting
customs and traditions.
Attraction
Places
PHAYAO
Virtually developed by mountains and
valleys, Phayao is a small, peaceful province. Though with
only modest facilities and conveniences, it is an enchanting
community with delightful natural beauty and fascinating
religious sites. Dating back to more than 900 years, it used
to be an independent state with its own rulers before it
became a part of the Lanna Thai Kingdom in mid-14 th century.
Attraction
Places
PETCHABUN
Situated right in the heart of the country some
346 kilometres from Bangkok, Phetchabun borders on three
regions, the North, the Central and the Northeast. The central
part of the province is on the Pa Sak river basin with mountain
ranges running along both the western and eastern sectors.
Because of the fertility of the land, Phetchabun has always
been an agriculturally productive area. The very name of
the province actually means the land of crops and foods.
Today, Phetchabun is a province with rich tourism potential.
Its climate is pleasant due to the mountainous and forested
areas and it has a history of richness and prosperity for
more than 1,400 years. As and Sukhothai styles have been
discovered.
Attraction Places
PHICHIT
Situated in the lower North some 345 kilometres
from Bangkok. Pichit is accessible by both road and rail. Nurtured
by two rivers, the Yom and the Nan running parallel to one
another north to south, the land is agriculturally fertile.
Once the site of an ancient town dating back almost a
thousand years ago, Phichit has played in a major role
in the history of both Sukhothai and Ayutthaya. Known
as the land of the crocodiles, it has been home to this
ferocious reptile which has thrived in its waters. There
are today several fresh-water crocodile farms. Phichit
features in the Thai epic Krai Thong composed by King
Rama II which tells of Chalawan, a powerful crocodile
king.
Attraction
Places
PHITSANULOK
A major tourist destination in the Lower North, Phitsanulok
is situated on the banks of the Nan River some 377 kilometres
from Bangkok. Most of the terrains are flatland, with mountain
ranges running on the east where waterfalls and national parks
offer opportunities for nature treks.
Historically, Phitsanulok has been a major community since the
time of the Khmers and enjoyed great prosperity during the Sukhothai
and Ayutthaya periods. During 1463-1487 it was practically another
royal capital as King Borom Trailokanat of Ayutthaya resided
permanently in the province.
Attraction Places
PHRAE
An old and important community of Northern Thailand. Phrae
was founded after Chiang Mai had been established as the capital
of the Lanna Thai kingdom. With one of the largest reserves of
teak forests in the country, it is located on the banks of the
Yom River, some 550 kilometres from Bangkok.
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Places
SUKHOTHAI
Sukhothai which literally means “Dawn of Happiness”
, is about 427 kilometres north of Bangkok, and was founded
in 1238. Sukhothai was the capital of Thailand for approximately
120 years.
Attraction Places
TAK
Tak is a northern province covering an area of 16,406 largely
mountainous square kilometers. The provincial capital is 426
kilometres of Bangkok, and is situated on the Ping river basin.
To the west, the border touches on Myanmar demarcated by mountain
ranges and the Moei River.
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Places
UTHAI THANI
The southern-most province of
the North, Uthai Thani covers an area of approximately 6,730
square kilometres which is mainly basin plains fed by the Chao
Phraya and Sakaekrang rivers. To the west are ranges of mountains
with a vast area of lush jungles bordering on Kanchanaburi province.
The diverse natural terrains are preserved as wildlife sanctuary
and designated as world heritage sites. There is evidence that
some of the land were once pre-historic human settlements and
sites of several ancient communities during the 1,000-year-old
Dvaravati era.
Attraction Places
UTTARADIT
A province in the Lower North, Uttaradit
has a long history developing through the years since prehistoric
time. The site of the original town, then called Bang Pho Tha
It, was located on the right bank of the Nan River, It flourished
as a port for goods transportation. As a result, King Rama V
elevated is status into a province and re-named it Uttaradit,
literally the Port of the North.
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