Things to Do in Chiang Rai

Better known as Thailand’s White Temple, Wat Rong Khun is well-known and popular among visitors to the Chiang Rai Province. Its unique design is a mixture of both contemporary art and traditional Buddhist motifs with intricate carvings in its all-white structure.

In early May 2014, a massive earthquake damaged much of the temple, and engineers then vowed to rebuild and restore the 1997 structure to its original splendor. As a result of the damage, however, visitors to this historic religious site can only enter a handful of the buildings. Others can only be viewed and photographed from the outside, but the ornate details and meticulously placed tiles still make this a destination despite current repairs. The temple’s ornate designs range from dragons and skulls to dozens of hands reaching up out of the ground.

The Lanna Kingdom, an area in Northern Thailand culturally distinct from any other region, was founded in the 1400s and became a vassal state in the late 1700s. The Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park, located just west of central Chiang Rai, houses the finest collection of Lanna art and artifacts in Thailand, including many teak pieces from across Northern Thailand.

Apart from the museum, the cultural park features several other points of interest dotted throughout its meticulously manicured grounds. Rising from the center is the Golden Pavilion (Haw Kham), a temple-like royal residence built in 1984 from the materials of 32 Thai wooden houses and presented to the Princess Mother on her 84th birthday.

This private museum has an impressive collection of artifacts from the ancient Lanna kingdom of northern Thailand. The collection includes carved thrones, embroidered costumes, Buddha images, antique jewelry, and priceless items used by royalty like the oub kham – the golden bowl that the museum is named for. There are minimal signs, but the English-speaking tour guide will ensure you know the story behind each item.

Don’t forget to take a walk around the museum grounds which are resplendent with traditional Lanna architecture, statues, and fountains.