Introduction
Chiang Mai is a city built on the roots of a traditional
heritage that dig deep into the soil of time. It's a city
with a beautiful cultural personality of its own. In addition,
it's been blessed with much majestic beauty in nature.
The people themselves are an unforgettable part of Chiang
Mai. Handicrafts of silk, silver and wood are timeless
souvenirs for visitors from all over the globe. Along
with all this, a wide variety of accommodations, restaurants,
and entertainment all help to make Chiang Mai one of Thailand's
prime tourist attractions..
Location:
Chiang Mai, 761 kms. by rail, approximately 700 kms. by
road north of Bangkok, with an area of 20,107.1 sq.lms.,
is Thailand's second largest city and capital of the northern
region.
ChiangMai is administratively divided into 22 Amphurs
districts) : Muang
Chiang
Dao
Doi Saket
Fang
Hod
Mae Chaem
Mae Taeng
Phrao
San Kamphaeng
San Sai
Wiang Haeng
and |
Chom
Thong
Doi Tao
Hang Dong
Mae Ai
Mae Rim
Omkoi
Samoeng
San Pa Tong
Saraphi
Chai Prakan
Mae Wang |
Situated between north latitude 17-21 and east longitude
98-99, the province of Chiang Mai is found in the upper
area of Thailand's northern region. Chiang Mai valley
is 310 meters (1,027 feet) above sea level. The widest
point of the province measures 136 kms. (85 miles), and
the longest 320 kms. (200 miles). To the north, a 277
kms. (141.82 miles) stretch of mountains divides Chiang
Mai's northern districts of Fang and Mae Ai from Myanmar's
(Burma's) Chiang Tung (Shan) State. In certain areas,
the Kok River also acts as a border between Chiang Mai
and Myanmar. On the east, Chiang Mai is bodered by the
Chaing Rai, Lampang, and Lamphun provinces. The Mae Tuen
River, Ream Mountain, and Luang Mountain separate Chiang
Mai's South from the province of Tak. Some portions of
Chiang Mai's South also border the Lamphun province. Tothe
west, Chiang Mai is bordered by Mae Hong Son province.
Topography :
A large part (69.31 %) of Chiang Mai's land is covered
by mountains and forests. These generally run in a north-south
pattern through the province and give birth to several
streams and tributaries (such as the Mae Jam, Mae Ngud,
and Mae Klang) which in turn feed important rivers and
irrigation canals (such as the Muang and Faay) which provide
the water necessary to Chiang Mai's agriculture. Chiang
Mai's largest and most important river is the Ping, which
originates in the mountains of Chiang Dao and flows southward
for 540 kilometers (337.5 miles). It is along the banks
of this river that Chiang Mai's flat, fertile valley atea
lies.
Chiang Mai is also home to Inthanon Mountain, which stands
2,575 meters (8,448 feet) above sea level and is Thailand's
highest mountain.
Climate
Cool Season : (late October to end of Februry). average
temperature 21? C and much cooler at night. The colest
months are December and January.
Hot Season : (early March to end of May) Average temperature
29.9? C. The hottest month is April.
Rainy Season : (early June to end of
October). Average temperature 25.5? C. The wettest month
is September.
Population
With a population of 1,547,085 Chiang Mai is one of
Thailand's largest provinces. Of the above number, 170,348
are currently living in Chiang Mai's city area with
the rest distributed throughout Chiang Mai's 21 districts,
2 sub-districts. 80% of the people in Chiang Mai are
locals by birth, and speak a sialext that is a slight
variation of the central Thai language. The remaining
20% is made up of Thai nationals and foreigners who
have moved to Chiang Mai to work, study, or retire.
There are many hilltribe people
living in the mountainous districts surrounding Chiang
Mai such as Omkoi, Mae Jam,
Chiang Dao, and Mae Ai. Statistics reported by the Tribal
Research Institute of Chiang Mai stated that in the
year 1992 there were 1,049 hilltribe villages in the
Chiang Mai province, constituting a total of 174,195
people. Of this amount, 106,116 were from the Karen
tribe, 27,392 from the Lahu (Musur) tribe, 17,198 from
the Hmong (Meo) tribe, 10,873 form the Lisu tribe, 8,862
from the Lua tribe, 2,609 from the Akha tribe, 1,145
from the Mien (yao) tribe, and 485 from the Palong tribe.
The hilltribe people are agricultural; planting fields,
raising animals, and hunting for a living. Since each
tribe has its own culture and language, they blanket
the hills of Chiang Mai with an interesting patchwork
quilt of diverse variety.
The majority (80%) of the Chiang Mai people earn a living
through agriculture and agricultural related professions.
The second largest vocation is tourism and its directly
and indirectly related jobs. General commerce and industry-mainly
in the form of handicrafts, and of processing agricultural
products-are the two other major professions in which
the Chiang Mai people are involved.
CHIANG MAI ATTRACTIONS
Chiang Mai is often spoken of by tourists and visitors
as being a city with a distinct beauty and cultural
heritage of its own. Along with its numerous ancient
temples and buildings, Nature added her own handiwork
in the majestic mountains and combine to compose a captivating
symphony which draws both domestic and international
tourists back to see this city of old time, tine, and
time again.
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