Chiangmai Chiangmai province,Chiangmai,in the old day was the capital of Lanna kingdom named "Nopphaburi Sri Nakhonping". Dated backed when King Mengrai ruled the country of Lanna Kingdom in 1259 when he first suceeded to the throne and built Chiangrai as his capital but he thought Chiangrai is not a good site to be the capital city. In 1291 when he went out for vacation in the forest he had found a good location to built a new capital near the Doi Suthep Mountain and next to the bank of Ping River. Then he invited King Ramkhamhaeng the king of Sukhothai Kingdom,and King Ngam Muang of Phayao Kingdom both were his close friend come to help him choosing a site for a new capital city. Evenually they decided to use this place to build the new capital in 1291. Chiangmai was the capital of Lanna Kingdom for a long time before it was sacked by Ayutthaya and later also became the vassal state of burma. Until King Taksin suceeded to the throne,and he made Chiangmai become independent from Burma again and later Chiangmai is a province of Thailand. ALL the important places as below. Wat (temple) Doi Suthep, Wat Doi Suthip is a very important temple in Chiangmai,situated on the top of Doi Suthip mountain in the area of Doi Suthip National Park, around 3500 feet above sea level with a staircase of 300 steps and at the beginning of the stair has mythical Nagas (the king of snake) on both sides. The local people have belived that the name "Suthip" is come from the name of a hermit (a patron of Thai medicine) who used to come to made merit here. Inside the temple,it has housed a Ubosoth (ordination hall) of Lanna style where inside the Ubosoth has mural painting on the wall show the history of Wat Doi Suthip. Apart from this it also housed many buildings,chapels of Buddha images,pavilions,the relic of Lord Buddha,statue of the hermit and elephant monument of the King Kalna.             Wat Chedi Luang,Wat Chedi Luang, one of the most important temple in Chiangmai. It is located in the centre of the city. It was built in the reign of King Mengrai the seventh. Thai people called Wat Chedi Luang because inside it housed the biggest and hightest pagoda in Lanna kingdom around 80 metres hight and it is the oldest pagoda in Chiangmai, it was built more than 600 years ago. Inside the temple also house many chapels of buddha images which mostly in Lanna style and made of wood. One of the most important buddha image called reclining buddha which is highly worship by local people who always come to enshrine the buddha image. Apart from that it also house "The Pillar of the city", because the temple itself marks the exact centre of Chiangmai.         Wat Chiangmun, Wat Chiangmun is the oldest temple in Chiangmai,situated on Ratchapakinai Rd. The area of the temple used to be the resident of King Mongrai while the new city of Chiangmai was being constructed but later gave this place to build a temple in dedication to Buddhism. King Mengrai also give the name of the temple called "Chiangmun" (meaning in Thai is "strong"). The most important buddha image in Wat Chiangmun is a small white crystal Buddha called Phra Setang Kamanee or Phra Kaeo kow which is highly worship by people through out the country and another image called Phra Sira made by Indian craftsmen in 1290 AD.   Wat Phra Singh,Wat Phra Singh is also located in the centre of the city on Samlarn Rd. It is well known to the local people as Wat Phaya Pa Yoo (King Pa Yoo), the founder of the temple. Inside it housed a large pagoda which the ashes of King Pa Yoo 's father is kept inside. Inside the temple also has a very beautiful labrary hall built in Lanna style,half wood, half cement and had many chapels and pavilions which one of the chapel inside housed the most important buddha image in the temple called "Phra Singh" .     Maesa elephants camp,Maesa elephants camp situated in the suburb of Chiangmai on Maesa mountain with beautiful scenary near the Maesa pond. It takes around 20 minutes from downtown to get to Maesa elephants camp. It has been opened for nearly 30 years with 78 elephants in side the camp. The owner Mr. Choochart Kalmapijit knows about the intelligence and abilities of elephants that inspired him to establish Maesa elephants camp in 1976. At first there were only a few elephants but later Mr Choochart purchased elephants from all over the country and working very hard on trainning and reveal their skills,intelligence and abilites to the tourists all over the world and to everybody who love elephant.     Chiangmai Zoo,Chiangmai zoo ,the 202 acres zoo in Chiangmai,some 700 kilos north of Bangkok, occupies the lower slopes of Doi Suthep, the forested mountain overlooking the provincial capital, and is perhaps the most attractively landscaped of all Thai zoos. The forest setting enhances animal enclosures which are generally spacious,conveniently accessible and enviromentally natural. Popular mammals include the African cheetah and giraffe, the Asian rhinoceroous, tiger and elephant. Several bird species can be viewed in a massive "walk-through" hillside aviary sufficiently spacious for inhabitants to freely fly and mate. Part of zoological gardens are reserved for breeding, especially for endangered species such as certain types of antelope, and dwarf donkeys.           Chiangmai Night Safari,The 326 acres Night Safari in Chiangmai is in the area of the Doi Suthip Pui National Park, is away from Chiangmai city around 10 kilometres. It is belong to the government foundation. Chiangmai Night Safari is the first night Safari in Thailand and the thrid night Safari in the world and is twice bigger than Singapore Night Safari. The reason to build Chiangmai Night Safari is to encourage night tour in Chiangmai and lift up the level of tourism in Chiangmai. It is the most attractive landscaped of all Night Safari. Tourists can enjoy watching popular animals closely from the tame to the wild animals (but mostly is Asia animals which is different from Africa Safari) while listening some interesing informations from experence tour guide on the microphone.