Travellers on the lookout for luxury Chiang Rai hotels should look no further than the stylish Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort. Offering guests resplendent accommodation in a historically rich area of Chiang Rai this breathtaking rest provides contemporary amenities and facilities for today’s traveller.
Regarded as one of the most illustrious historic enclaves of the Lanna Kingdom Chiang Sean which was known as Wiang Hiran Nakhon Ngoen Yang served as the capital of the region till 1262 when King Mengrai moved the capital to the newly founded Chiang Rai. Often described as one of the country’s most battle worn districts the historical remnants of Chiang Sean are still visible today. Having endured multiple invasions by the Burmese as early as the 16th century and invaded and ransacked by Thai King Rama the First the entire hamlet known as Chiang Sean can be described as a historical enclave with relics and remnants of its tumultuous past scattered across its confines.
The most potent reminder of Chiang Sean’s historic relevance is of course is double city walls that still surround the ancient city in three directions while the Mekong River is identified as its fourth wall. Some of the must-see highlights on a tour of Chiang Sean include the Chiang Sean National Museum which documents the rich legacy of this former capital. Situated within close proximity to the old city wall the venue is famed for the many artifacts it showcases including the many Buddha sculptures and statues dating back to the 11th -12th centuries when the Chiang Sean Kingdom is believed to have been a thriving city centre and capital.
Adjacent to the museum one finds the ancient temple of Wat Phra That Chedi Luang which houses the highest pagoda in all of Chaing Rai. Towering above the landscape at a height of 88m the venue’s pagoda resembles a traditional Lanna style bell. The ruins of Wat Phra That Chom Kitti are equally intriguing while the classic Lanna architectural elements visible in Wat Pa Sak are also worthy of exploration. Wat Phra Chao Lan Thong is another temple highlight within the city walls that was constructed by Prince Thong Ngua, the son of the 12th monarch of Lanna. The locale is home to a 3m high 2m wide Buddha sculpture that weighs 1.2Kg as well as a brass Buddha image dubbed Phra Chao Thong Thip which displays classic Sukhothai features.
Jayani Senanayake is a writer who dabbles in travel and all things exotic. Under the pseudonym of Caliope Sage, she writes of the allures that must simply be discovered.