Joanna James
The spiritual capital of Thailand is dotted with charming temples – though they're the main attraction that's talked about, there's a whole lot more to it than just a city with a bunch of temples.
Chiang Mai has an unbelievable number of temples, 200 to be exact. So, you can't simply brush it off, you have to make time for at least one or two of these sites. Also, keep in mind that these temples are visited by locals who actively engage in worship. So, wear something appropriate and behave in a way that shows respect – also, keep it down, don't make too many noises.
This is the beauty of this city. Chiang Mai tourist attractions aren't restricted to just one area, there's more than one category of tourism in the town. You will have to spend two hours on the road to get to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, but it's all going to be worth it. You could feed them, bathe them and watch them play – baby elephants are usually the highlight of the day.
This little village has a population of 1,000 people – most of whom are either Chinese or Thai-Chinese. Its small-town allure draws many into the city. Everything about the village is Chinese including the buildings, signboards, the language and not to mention Chinese food. The tea plantation just adds to the perfect picture of beautiful scenery. The best time to pay a visit is during February as that's when you can witness the annual Tea Tasting Festival. If you are not going for Anantara Chiang Mai Serviced Suites, you can choose from a range of lodging facilities in Baan Rai Thai.
Markets in Chiang Mai covers most of the things one would want to buy. Fresh fruits to gift items to souvenirs, these markets are the perfect spot for you to do some gift shopping. To name a few; Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, Saturday Night Market and Sunday Night Market are some of the popular tourist markets.
Just a 40-minute away from the city is the Grand Canyon in Chiang Mai. A lot of people aren't aware of this place, so it still remains sort of unadulterated. If you have no experience cliff jumping, just observe the others and take smaller jumps first.
If it's too hot a day and you could do with some river breeze, paddle down the river in a bamboo raft. It sure is fun but getting to the river is the hardest part.
If you don't want to hike by yourself or you are new to hiking, you have a solution right under your nose; join the hiking club on Saturdays. You can go hiking and explore the jungle that outlines the city.
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