Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai is the provincial capital of the province of Chiang Rai in northern Thailand.  The population is estimated (2005) at 78,800.

It was founded by King Mengrai in 1262 and it was the Lanna Thai kingdom’s first capital, before it was soon added to Chiang Mai to the south. In 1432 appeared the “Emerald of the Buddha” (in reality it is not an emerald, but made of jade), Thailand’s most treasured religious representation. It was in Chiang Rai when lightning struck the Wat Phra Kaew Temple so that a stucco deck was uncovered.

Province Chiang Rai is situated high up in the mountains; it’s highest elevation is 580 m. The northern part of the province belongs to the so-called Golden Triangle The border regions team with tropical rain forest, forestry and opium cultivation between Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, which is characterized by lawlessness and limit smuggling. The border with Laos follows the Mekong River.

Doi Luang National Park in the south is one of Thailand’s largest. Just west of this runs a mountain range north to south that climbs to 1999 meters above sea level right at the southwest point, and elsewhere rises up to 1668 meters.

Highway 1 runs from Chiang Rai south to Bangkok, while Highway 118 is going west to Chiang Mai.  There is also stem roads running northward into Myanmar to the local airport in Chiang Rai.

Right along the Mekong river is very good agricultural land, and in the mountains some forestry is done.

By legend, Chiang Rai was founded by King Mengrai, because his elephant liked the area. Early on, the region had for centuries been part of the Kingdom of Lanna Thai. After Lanna Thai was incorporated into Thailand, it remained an autonomous region administered from Chiang Mai. Chiang Rai was made a special Thai province in 1910.