TCEI04 – Culture and history of Chiang Rai Tour

Your driver and guide will pick you up from the hotel. Today you will learn about the culture and history of Chiang Rai, a city founded by King Mengrai in the 14th century. This morning we will visit Rai Mae Fah Luang or the Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park. The Royal Collection of Lanna Art on display here has been collected over the years by the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under the patronage of HRH the Princess Mother.

One of the highlights of the park is the Haw Kham (Golden Pavillion) based on traditional Lanna architectural forms. The pavilion houses a display of ceremonial and sacred teakwood artifacts as well as the Phra Pra Toh wooden buddah image which was carved in the 17th century. A further pavilion, Haw Kham Noi houses a set of Lanna temple mural paintings.

Lunch will be at the Tok Thong restaurant. You will taste some typical Northern Thai dishes. After lunch a samlor (bicycle taxi) will pick us up and we will visit a remarkable museum and Wat Phra Keow in the afternoon. First we will head for the Oub Kham Museum. This museum is the centre of the Lanna Heritage Conservation Centre and houses artifacts from Lanna kingdoms that once occupied parts of Thailand, Laos, Burma and Vietnam. It houses, amongst others, the Golden Throne of Chiang Tung (now Keng Tung, located in eastern Burma).  Proceed to Wat Phra Keow which once housed the statue of the Emerald Buddha.

After that, transfer back to your hotel.