Chiang Mai; ’Rose of the North’

“Chiang Mai is a city built on the roots of a traditional heritage that dig deep into the soil of time.”

When you are travelling in Thailand and you talk to a Thai person, he will probably ask you: ‘Did you already visit Chiang Mai?’ Chiang Mai is considered by the Thai Thailand’s ‘Rose of the North’. Once you have visited Chiang Mai, you will understand.

Although Chiang mai is the second largest city of Thailand it has not lost it laid back charm of little streets (Soi), Teak houses, little gardens which you can especially find in the old city of Chiang Mai, when being here you do not have the idea that you are being in a big city. 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. which gives it a unique feel, and a level of culture and refinement not found in other parts of Thailand. In addition, it’s been blessed with much majestic beauty in nature and surrounded by a ring of mountains.

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.

Chiang Mai: ’Spiritual City’

City of 300 temples

Anywhere in Chiang Mai you will find Temples (Wats). In total there are more than 300 Wats (temples) in Chiang Mai, the highest concentration of anywhere in Thailand. When you are waking up early you will see oranges robes monks walking through the street with their begging bowls.

Many travelers also come to Chiang Mai to study massage or to do meditation retreats. All this gives Chiang Mai a beautiful spiritual energy nowhere else to be find in Thailand. That is probably why Chiang Mai has been voted one of the top destinations to live in Asia and is a modern and cosmopolitan city, while not having lost its traditional old charm.

Climate of Chiang Mai

Great weather all year through

Cool Season :
(late October to end of February).This is the most popular season to visit Chiang Mai. Warm during the day and reasonably cool during the night. Average temperature 21C and much cooler at night. The coolest months are December and January.

Hot Season :
(early March to end of May) Average temperature 29.9C. The hottest month is April, sometimes temperatures can reach 38C, Also some thunderstorms..

Rainy Season :
(early June to end of October). Average temperature 25.5C. The wettest month is September. This can also be a very pleasant season to stay. It almost never rains more then 1 or 2 hours a day, and it is a bit cooler and everything in the nature is blooming

Visa for Thailand

Arrange your visa before coming to Thailand

The visa situation is recently changing very rapidly. So it is wise to just double check the situation before you come to Thailand. Although you can get a visa on arrival for 30 days, If you would like to stay longer the best option is to arrange a tourist visa before you go to Thailand.

Tourist Visa, single entry:
This Visa is valid for 3 months and allows you to stay in Thailand for 60 days. After these 60 days you can go to the nearest immigration office (Chiang Mai has one) to extend the visa with 30 more days for around 1.900 Baht. When this is finished you need to leave the country. If you wish to stay longer you can get a new tourist visa in one of the neighboring countries.

VOA (Visa on arrival):
This visa you will receive on arrival in Thailand. If you come by air you will get a VOA for 30 days, if you come by land you will get a 2 weeks Visa.

Long term Visa’s, multiple entry tourist Visa:
If you wish to stay longer in Thailand, consulates in Europe and America provide Multiple Entry Tourist Visa’s (valid up to 8 months). You can only arrange this visa in your home country. After 60 days you can extend this visa for 30 days at Chiang Mai immigration for 1.900 Baht. When this expires you need to leave the country when you return you will get another 60 days

Vegetarian restauraunts

Abundance of healthy food

Chiang Mai has a great number and a great variety of vegetarian restaurants. Close to our studio are 4 of the most popular veggie restaraunts. Here some of my favorites:

Da Da’s Healthy Café:,
Great selection of fresh juices, smoothies, Thai healthy food and sandwiches, owned and runned by Da a great person. My favourite hang out place

Taste of heaven:
Moved close to our studio, very nice selection of vegetarian food

Morning glory:
Great vegetarian food, great variety of food. My favorite is Pumpkin Humus

Juicy 4 U:
Great juices, good food. The best vegetarian burger

Blue Diamond:
Everybody’s favourite. A very popular place for yoga and massage people. Especially the salads seem to be very popular

Aum restaurant:
Very decent vegetarian food

Links

Yoga/Thai Massage links

www.yogadirectory.com: world wide Yoga directory
www.yoga-centers-directory.net: Yoga center directory
www.yogafinder.com: the largest yoga directory on the net
www.yogainasia.com: yogadirectory Asia
www.bodymindspiritdirectory.org
Beauty Directoryhttp://www.healthandbeautylistings.org – Your number one resource for the Health and Beauty industry

Thailand and Chiang Mai links

www.ThailandAmazing.com: An online Thailand directory about Thai travel, business, society, guides to Bangkok, Phuket and more.
www.ThailandGateway.com – A complete directory and guide to travel in Thailand.
www.PictureThailand.com Gallery & Directory of Thailand and information on the web .
Thailand Websites; Web Directory Thailand
Blog of Colleen about Chiang Mai