If you are interested in religious sites, Buddhist temples, in particular, Thailand is the perfect country to visit. Most tourists are attracted to Buddhist temples due to several reasons. Religious tranquillity, for one, is a signature element of Buddhist temples. The architectural design is another instrumental factor.
Thai temples are famous exquisitely for their massive stupas and statues. Lanna style is a unique type of temples found in Thailand. Like traditional temples, a Lanna temple is easy to identify with the stupas coloured and coated in gold. A Lanna style temple, however, has a more refined outward appearance.
Located in close proximity to major hotels in Chiang Mai, these temples could easily be identified with windows and doors small in size. They are built in such a way to suit the migrants from areas of inclement weather. Thus, the style is known for its nature-based simplicity. This architectural style has withstood the test of time thanks to the people who maintained a down-to-earth lifestyle. Most Lanna temples, like other buildings such as traditional houses and royal mansions, need a good repair, as they had been neglected for centuries. There are about 300 temples in and outside Chiang Mai. Much revered even today, these temples had been built during the Lanna dynasty.
Some temples have information centres and museums where you can obtain more information about the dynasty as well as the significance of the temple. The Lanna style belongs to the Lanna Kingdom which existed about 700 years ago. That kingdom spread across Xishuangbanna province in China and Luang Prabang in Laos plus some areas in Burma. Over the centuries, the Lanna style faded into oblivion. The Lanna style temples are the primary monuments left over from the kingdom. Interestingly, this ancient style has influenced even the modern buildings such as Anantara Chiang Mai Resort.
Although Lanna style withstood a few centuries, the turn of the 20th century with its modernity seems to have taken a toll on the temples and other buildings. But the ancient style began to flourish about 10 years ago. Chiang Mai is facing a tremendous architectural upheaval, resulting in the restoration of the Lanna style.
Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+
