Culture and History

The city of Chiang Mai was founded in 1296 as the capital the of the Lanna Kingdom. Originally. the city covered an area of approximately 2.5 square kilometres but this has expanded considerably over the years. In the early 14th century, temples such as Wat Chiang Man, Wat Pra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang were constructed and  still survive to this day. They are a must-see on any Chiang Mai itinerary. Walking or cycling around the city today you can see ancient city walls and gates, moats and many other significant historical structures.