Chiang Saen National Museum

The ancient city of Chiang Saen which is one of the most important cities of the Lan Na Kingdom and admits a large number of archaeological sites, both prehistoric and historic periods was established by command of King Saen Pu in 1328.

Archaeological and historical evidences manifested that Chiang Saen has a long development of complex cultures. The location on the west bank of the Mekong River is appropriate for human settlement that could develop itself into a center for tread as well as into a town of economic and political importance. The architectural remains are sources of strength to the written records that the city was fully advanced in the 14th century.

The Chiang Saen National Museum, Which is a site museum under the Department of Fine Arts, was established in the old sala (Buddhist building) of Wat Chedi Luang in 1957 as the center for collecting and displaying archaeological artifacts found from excavation and restoration of the ruins in the ancient city of Chiang Saen and its vicinity. It is situated in the ancient city of Chiang Saen, in 1981 it was allocated a budget to complete the new building as planned. The main exhibition hall is constructed in the applied - Lan Na architectural style.

The main purpose of the collection is to emphasize history, art and archaeology related to human settlement, and artifacts from prehistoric to historic periods for the purpose of study and pleasure.

H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously opend the museum on March 7, 1997.

The Chiang Saen National Museum occupies the entire space of a rectangular shaped one storey building and the addition past of U-shaped wing, so the museum exhibition can be divided into 3 sections as follows :

First Section The storey - inside a major exhibition hall on the lower floor displays : the location of the settlement at Chiang Saen, Inscriptions was found from Chiang Saen and its vicinity and stucco decoration from Wat Pa Sak including the world reknowned sculpture of the kirtimuka (kala face). Another attractive point of the main exhibition hall is the flame final of the Heavenly Golden Budha and the Lan Na Buddha images in Chiang Saen style, the excavations and restorations of the ruins in Chiang Saen and its vicinity.

Second Section The storey - inside a major exhibition hall on the upper floor displayed important sculptures in Chiang Saen and artifacts from excavation and renovation of ancient monuments in Chiang Saen and also it's surrounding area.

Third Section The exhibitions are Northern Thai ceramics in Chiang Rai province and the other related wares, the Mekong River, religious objects, and folk art of the northern minority groups in Ching Rai Province such as the Thai Yuan, Thai Yai, Thai Lue, and various hill tribes in Chiang Saen District including Mien (Yao), Akha (Ekaw), and Hmong (Maew). Also Shown are tools and basketry of various ethnic groups.

Doi Luang National Park

Covers areas in Amphoe Phan, Amphoe Wiang Pa Pao of Chiang Rai and some part of Lampang and Phayao.

Topography
The area consists of high mountain range lying north and south. Doi Luang Mountain, in the north part, is the highest area. The area has laterite mixed with rock especially on the top and productive soil in the valley. The rock in this area is sandstone.
Climate
The weather is three season such as; Rainy season – from June to October Winter – from November to January Summer – from February to May.
Flora and Fauna
There are many kinds of forest in the area such as mixed forest, rain forest, and deciduous forest, which have the main plants, for examples, Sela (a kind of Lagerstroemia), ironwood, Kabok (a kind of Ixonanthaceae), Moulmein cedar, gangaw, Siamese sal, ingyin, Heang (a kind of Dipterocarpaceae), eng, many kinds of Fagaceae and bamboo. Animals found are barking deer, wild boar, beer, hare, palm civet, civet cat, flying squirrel, monkey, tiger and many kinds of bird.

How to get there

To get to the park is by taking Chiang Rai - Phayao Highway for 58 kms. to Ban Pu Kaeng, turn right at km. 773 for another 9 kms.

Contact

Doi Luang National Park Mae Yen district, Phan amphore, Chiang Rai province post code 57280, tel 053 609 042

and tourist service centre to serve everyday on 08:00-16:30.

King Mengrai

King Mengrai was born to the ruler of Ngoen Yang (in the region of Chiang Saen in 1239. His mother was a daughter of the Tai Leu ruler of Chiang Hung (Jinghong in Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunnan). The 25th in a line of Lao kings, he ascended to the throne in 1259.A charismatic and powerful leader, he quickly established dominance over the small neighbouring principalities.As his power increased he moved his capital to Chiang Rai, which he founded in 1262, and then to Fang in 1268. In 1276, he formed an alliance with King Ngam Muang, the powerful ruler of Phayao.King Mengrai captured the richer and more powerful city of Haripunchai (Lamphun) in 1281. He was able to do this through a conspiracy with a skilful merchant called Ai Fa, who won the confidence of the city's ruler and became chief minister. Ai Fa then undermined the king's popularity, bringing about the easy downfall of the city.

Mengrai gained further strength from his association with King Ngam Muang of Phayao, who had been tutored as a child with King Ramkamhaeng of Sukhothai. This helped Mengrai forge an alliance with the latter in 1287, securing his southern flank from attack and giving him a free hand to counter threats from the Mongol Chinese empire to the north.
At some time in the 1280's Mengrai moved his capital to Wiang Kum Kam, but the site later proved to be unsuitable. In the late 1280's he made two expeditions to Burma.
From the Mon kingdom of Hamsavati (Pegu) he gained an alliance and the hand of the king's daughter. From the Shan kingdom of Ava-Pagan he gained 500 families of skilled craftsmen.
Mangrai founded his grandest capital, Chiang Mai, in 1296 and began to embellish it with temples. His forces successfully campaigned against the Chinese Mongols in Southern Yunnan, but after 1311 he sent tribute to the Mongols and averted further threats from the north. He died in the middle of the city, reputedly from a lightning strike, in the year 1317.
Mangrai had three sons. The second son, Chai Songkhram, was to continue the dynasty that ruled Lanna until the demise of Phra Mekuti in 1564.

Monument of King Mengrai the Great This Monument is situated at the starting point of the road to Mae Chan, Chiang Saen and Mae Sai.

Seal of Chiang Rai Province

The seal of the province shows a white elephant, the royal symbol. It remembers that Chiang Rai was founded by King Mengrai, according to the legend because his elephant liked the place.
The provincial tree is the Tree Jasmine (Radermachera ignea), and the provincial flower is the Orange Trumpet (Pyrostegia venusta).
The provincial slogan says: "Northernmost in Siam, beautiful Doi Tung, repository of culture, most delicious rice, sweet and fragrant litchi, beautiful women, the finest flavored tea, pineapple".

Chiang Rai Province

Chiang Rai is the most northern province (changwat) of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are (from east clockwise) Phayao, Lampang and Chiang Mai. In the north it borders Shan State of Myanmar and Bokeo and Oudomxai of Laos.

The average elevation of the province is 580 m. The north of the province belongs to the so-called Golden Triangle, at which the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar converge - an area which was very unsafe because of the drug smuggling across the borders. The Mekong river forms the boundary with Laos, the Mae Sai and Ruak River to Myanmar. Through the town of Chiang Rai itself flows the Kok River.

While the eastern part of the province is relatively flat river plains, the western part consists of mountainous terrain. While not the highest elevation of the province, the 1322 m high Doi Tung (Flag hill) is the most important hill. The Wat Phra That Doi Tung temple on top of the hill according to the chronicles dates back to the year 911. Nearby is the Doi Tung royal villa, former residence of princess mother Somdej Phra Srinagarindra. Thanks to her activities the hills were reforested, and the hill tribes changed from growing poppy to other crops.

Chiang Rai became a province in 1910, after being part of the kingdom of Lannathai for centuries. After Lannathai was incorporated into Thailand, it stayed an autonomous region and thus the Chiang Rai area was administered from Chiang Mai.

The majorty of the population are generally ethnic Thai, but 12.5% of the population belong to the hill tribes, a minority in the North of Thailand. A minority are of Chinese descent, mainly descendants of the Kuomintang soldiers who settled in the region, notably Santikhiri.

Statistics
Capital : Chiang Rai
Area : 11,678.4 km²

Inhabitants : 1,129,701 (2000)
Pop. density : 97 inh./km²