Located along the banks of the Mekong River in northern Thailand, Chiang Saen is a small, sleepy city that now resembles a mere shadow of the ancient magnificent Chiang Saen kingdom that flourished until the 14th century. Chiang Saen is near the “Golden Triangle”, the place where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet, that is teeming with superior tourist accommodations such as Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, a luxury Hotel, Chiang Rai and restaurants. One has to travel only for a few miles to witness the subtle beauty of Chiang Saen, the presence the city bears of its ancient forefathers in the crumbling earthen walls that surround it and the many deteriorating buildings that decorate the city.
The city that was once the capital of Lanna was burned to the ground around the 18th century to prevent it from being captured. Left off to be a ghost town and repopulated in recent times, it is evident by the sparse traffic and tranquility within the city that it has not quite regained its feet. The visitors to this city can glimpse into a bygone era by wandering the streets and observing the many beautifully preserved temple structures built during the 13th and 14th centuries that still impress those gaze upon them.
Of such structures, a popular attraction is the Wat Phra Chao Lan Thong temple, a “chedi” still visited by many who reside in the city and home to the magnificent bronze Buddha image known as Phra Chao Lan Thong. The Wat Pa Sak, a finely preserved temple structure located outside the city walls is considered the most important structure in the city due its architectural magnificence and artistic detail of the ornamental stucco motifs and is regarded as a singularly breathtaking example of Lanna architecture. One can also visit the famous Chian Saen National museum located near the old city walls, a single structure, housing priceless Buddha images, statues and artifacts from the Chian Saen kingdom that have survived the ages representing the skills and mastery wielded by craftsman of ancient times.
Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+
