Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Northern Thailand Highlights
Exploring nature reserves such as Phitsanulok's Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park ( Click here ) or Mae Hong
Son's Salawin National Park ( Click here )
Hiking and rafting in remote Um Phang, where the end of the road leads to Nam Tok Thilawsu ( Click here ) ,
Thailand's most beautiful waterfall
Learning to be a mahout (elephant caretaker) at Lampang's Thai Elephant Conservation Center ( Click here )
Investigating little-visited cities such as Phayao ( Click here ) or Phrae ( Click here )
Cycling around the ruins of Thailand's golden age at Sukhothai ( Click here )and Si Satchanalai-Chaliang His-
torical Parks ( Click here )
Renting a vehicle and driving the Mae Hong Son Loop ( Click here ) or the route from Chiang Khong to
Phayao ( Click here )
History
Northern Thailand's history has been characterised by the shifting powers of various inde-
pendent principalities. One of the most significant early cultural influences in the north was
the Mon kingdom of Hariphunchai (based in contemporary Lamphun), which held sway
from the late 8th century until the 13th century. Hariphunchai art and Buddha images are
particularly distinctive, and many good examples can be found at the Hariphunchai Nation-
al Museum in Lamphun.
The Thais, who are thought to have migrated south from China around the 7th century,
united various principalities in the 13th century - this resulted in the creation of Sukhothai
and the taking of Hariphunchai from the Mon. In 1238 Sukhothai declared itself an inde-
pendent kingdom under King Si Intharathit and quickly expanded its sphere of influence.
Because of this, and the significant influence the kingdom had on Thai art and culture, Suk-
hothai is considered by Thais to be the first true Thai kingdom.
In 1296 King Mengrai established Chiang Mai after conquering Hariphunchai. Later, in
the 14th and 15th centuries, Chiang Mai, in an alliance with Sukhothai, became a part of
the larger kingdom of Lan Na Thai (Million Thai Rice Fields), popularly referred to as
Lanna. This empire extended as far south as Kamphaeng Phet and as far north as Luang
Prabang in Laos. The golden age of Lanna was in the 15th century, and for a short time
during this period, the Sukhothai capital was moved to Phitsanulok, and Chiang Mai in-
creased in influence as a religious and cultural centre. However, during the 16th century,
many of Lan Na Thai's important alliances weakened or fell apart, ultimately leading to the
Burmese capturing Chiang Mai in 1556. Burmese control of Lanna lasted for the next two
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