What to Visit in the area of Chiang Rai, Thailand ? (white temple, blue temple…) – Page 2

Note : You are on Page 2.  Start with Page 1 about Chiang Rai.

Maps – Orientation

Map 2 – Chiang Rai – Town Center

Map 3 – Chiang Rai – Attractions in the Suburbs

Map 5 – Chiang Rai – Interactive Map

Note : More Maps on the first page.

Attractions in the Suburbs of Chiang Rai

As I said on the first page, most of the interesting attractions are in the suburbs of Chiang Rai and this page is about them.
I have ordered the tourist attractions according to my personal preference and not by closeness to each other. So look at the Maps above  and decide what you want to visit first. For example :  Singha Park is relatively close to the White Temple, so you may decide to visit them together. It all depends on how much time you have for your visit. If you don’t have a lot of time, then don’t visit a park.

1. The Blue Temple – Wat Rong Suea Ten

The white temple is more important than the blue temple, but the blue temple is blue, so it appears as number 1 on this page. In addition, the entrance to the blue temple is free (at the time of writing) and you can take pictures inside. It is a very beautiful place.
The blue temple is relatively close to the city, see later how to arrive.

It is a Buddhist temple

The Temple is relatively new. Construction began in 2005 and there are still works in progress.

Thankfully, it is allowed to take picture inside. (In the white temple it is forbidden).

Here is a school group, visiting the temple

The cat was not blue

How to arrive ?

2. The White Temple – Wat Rong Khun

A very impressive temple, all in white. This is the attraction number 1 of Chiang Rai.

You can admire the temple from outside or pay an entrance fee of 100 Baht and visit the interior. If you are Thai, entrance is free.

It is not allowed to take pictures inside the temple, so I have no pictures of the interior. I can tell you that on one wall, there are drawings from the movie Star Wars.

Also Spiderman and Hungry Birds are inside.

It is a Buddhist temple. Also in this case it is relatively new. Construction began in 1997 and there are still works in progress.

There are also other parts to visit, like this golden building.

At the end of the visit you can buy a Smoothie in one of the cafés.

How to arrive ?

3. The Goddess of Mercy – Wat Huay Pla Kang

A wonderful place to visit. Don’t miss it. There are 3 beautiful structures built on a hill.

And especially a huge lady Buddha.

It is possible to arrive with an elevator to the top of the lady Buddha (at day time) and look to the outside through her eyes (which are also windows). The elevator costs 40 Baht (at the time of writing).

There is a nice view from upstairs

And nice decoration inside

The place is nice at day time and also in the evening when it is illuminated.

Did you know that there are female and male dragons ? This is a female dragon (The male dragon is beside).

You can climb by stairs in the Pagoda building (free). On each floor there is a different, statue surprising you

The place is a Buddhist temple with elements of Chinese architecture.

How to arrive ?

4. Joiwoi Beach – River view

At the north of the city of Chiang Rai, there is a river. The Kok river.

One of the most attractive views are from “Kham MaeNam Kok” Bridge. You can pass via this bridge on your way to The Goddess of Mercy.

How to arrive ?

5. Baandam Museum – Black House Museum

A private art museum. It contains a mixture of traditional northern Thai and unconventional contemporary architecture. Designed by Thawan Duchanee.

A lot of crocodiles in this museum

There are buildings and gardens. The gardens are pleasant for sitting. A very calm place. You can easily spend 2 hours in this museum.

Strange structures everywhere

And you can visit them inside, in some cases

It is a museum, so also the sign to the toilet has to be special

Very nice buildings

Stonehenge ?

A submarine

Very special toys

A real buffalo

Real Chicken

A lot of skulls in this museum

Mainly skulls of Bufallos

How to arrive ?

6. Singha Park

Do you know the famous Thai beer “Singha” ? Then the company created a big park in the suburbs of Chiang Rai.

The lion that appears on the Singha beer bottle is here, at the entrance of the park and this is a favorite spot to take pictures.

The park is huge. It has also lakes.

You better have a way of transport in order to move inside.

You can enter the park with you own motorbike or car. Another possibility is to rent an electric vehicle in place, or to be transported by one.

The park has different parts and the main focus is a sport area with 2 cafés.

One café is inside a building

Another café is outside

There is also a section with farm animals in the park, but you can’t arrive there with a motored vehicle.

How to arrive ?

7. Wat Phrathat Doi Khao Kwai (Temple)

A nice Buddhist temple on a hill.

Located half way to the famous Singha Park, so very convenient to visit.

The most interesting statue in this temple is a sort of dog with 5 eyes and 4 ears. This is a famous legendary figure in Thai culture called Sihuhata.

And there is a smaller one

There is a beautiful view from upstairs

At sunset, the temple is a popular climb for cyclists

Cyclists who like to meet at the top and talk

There are interesting stairs to other directions

How to arrive ?

8. Garden of Reeds

First of all, this garden is located just 4 Km from the famous Blue Temple, so very convenient to visit.

It is a beautiful flower garden, beside the river.

There are funny colorful statues

The entrance is free

In some periods of the year there is a flower festival in Chiang Rai and this garden becomes even more interesting.

How to arrive ?

9. Waterfalls and Hot Springs

If you have seen everything around Chiang Rai, you can visit some waterfalls.

  1. Khun Kon Waterfall  – 28 Km from Chiang Rai. The waterfall itself is 1.4 Km walk from the entrance.
  2. Huai Kaeo Waterfall – 24 Km from Chiang Rai. There are several waterfalls.
  3. Pong Phra Bat Waterfall – 15 Km from Chiang Rai.
  4. Pong Phrabat Hot Springs –  10 Km from Chiang Rai.
  5. Huai Mak Liam Hot Spring – 23 Km from Chiang Rai.
  6. Pa Tueng Hot Springs – 35 Km from Chiang Rai.

Pa Tueng Hot Springs

This is Pa Tueng Hot Springs. Located in the area of the tea plantations, Mae Salong (see page 4, for the tea plantation area).

You can pay at the entrance and get some equipment for a bath

Apparently it is a custom between Thais, to boil eggs in the hot springs.

Did you know that the water are very, very hot in a Hot spring ? It is probably not the most enjoyable activity when it is already hot outside.

How to arrive to  Pa Tueng Hot Springs ?

Note : There are closer Hot Springs to Chiang Rai. Visit this one only if you are in the area of the Tea Plantations.

10. More Attractions in the Suburbs

If you have extra time :

  1. Oub Kham Museum –  A private museum exhibiting Northern Thailand’s tribal history with jewelry, costumes & sculptures. Located about 2 Km from Chiang Rai.
  2. Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park –  Gardens + museum. Located about 4 Km from Chiang Rai.
  3. Elephant Camp – There are several camps around Chiang Rai. There is the issue of ethic regarding riding on elephants. So in some camps you just bath the elephants. There is Elephant Peace Project and Ruammit Elephant Camp. Note that it is a popular organized excursion from Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai. You will see publicity.
  4. Long Neck Tribe – There is the Longneck Karen Village, about 15 Km north of Chiang Rai.

Continue to Page 3 – What to Visit inside Chiang Rai

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