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About Chiang Mai Culture and the Lanna KingdomMaps
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King Mengrai founded the city of Chiang Mai ("new city") in 1296 as capital of the Lannathai kingdom and constructed a moat and a wall for security. In the 500 years following, wars with the Burmese and Thais from Ayutthaya caused a decline. At the end of the Burmese wars in 1767, the Lannathai kingdom was so weak that the city was abandoned until 1791.It was during this period (1774) that King Thaksin of Siam captured Lanna from the Burmese and formally annexed it to the Thai Kingdom. Today the city is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand, and is the capital of Chiang Mai Province. About 700 kilometers north of Bangkok on the Ping river, the setting is among some of the highest mountains in the country. The city covers most of the Muang (central) district of Chiang Mai Province and has a population of 150,000. The urban and suburban areas of the city now extend into several neighboring districts with a Metropolitan Area population of almost 700,000 people.
In both cultural, and economic status Chiang Mai is the unofficial capital of the north of Thailand, second only in national importance to Bangkok. The symbol of the city, and prominent on the official seal is the golden chedi at Wat Doi Suthep. The temple that overlooks all of the city.
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Cultural EventsMajor festivals this year will include: February Flower Festival When temperatures are cool and tropical flowers are in full bloom in February each year, a three-day festival is held on the first weekend of the month. Festivities include traditional dancing shows, a beauty contest and parades with floral floats . April Songkran Held in mid-April to celebrate the traditional Thai new year. Chiang Mai has become maybe the most popular location in Thailand for this festival. Parades, a Miss Songkran beauty competition and a variety of religious ceremonies are held but the most popular activity is the good-natured city-wide water-fight. There is no escaping so plan to join in and enjoy being wet. May Inthakin ( ancient city pillar) Celebration In early May ceremonies are held on seven auspicious days to invoke blessings of peace, happiness and prosperity for the city and the residents. A Buddha image is paraded around the city. Thamboon Muang In late May or early June this merit making ceremony is held at the four gates and corners of the ancient city wall to preserve the ancient Lanna traditions, culture and heritage. November Loi Kratong Known locally as Yi Peng The celebration is held on a full-moon night in November. Thousands of people make floating banana-leaf containers (krathong) decorated with flowers and candles and launch them on any waterway the city to worship the Goddess of Water. In the early evening, literally thousands of Lanna-style hot-air lanterns (khom fai) are launched into the air to bring good luck and help banish troubles. December The King's Birthday On December 5th.The King's Birthday is yearly celebrated as Fathers' Day. This year is the Kings' 80th year and coincides with 60 years on the throne. Major nationwide celebrations are planned.
ClimateChiang Mai has a tropical climate, but is cooler and less humid than Bangkok or other parts of Thailand because of the mountain elevation.The cool season lasts from late October to the end of February with daytime temperatures of 21° Celsius (70° Fahrenheit) and cooler nights. Temperatures are lowest in December and January, when it's cool enough to wear a sweater or jacket. Between November and May is the dry season when the prevailing winds are from the direction of China and northern Vietnam bringing a dry season. The hot season is from early March to the end of May. Average daytime temperatures are 30° Celsius (85° Fahrenheit). At the end of May northern Thailand experiences monsoons. The winds shift and the monsoons arrive from India, lasting until November. The heaviest downpours are in September with the rains usually falling in the late afternoon.
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