Chiang Mai Guide - Chiang Mai History

Chiang Mai popularly known as the “rose of the north” is located near the Ping river in the North of Thailand. Chiang Mai city sits in a rich fertile valley and is surrounded by stunning natural beauty and maintains a strong unique cultural identity.

Some of the first inhabitants to settle in in the valley were the Mon. Drawn by trade along the river the Mon chose the valley to establish Hanpunchai Lamphun in the eighth century. In 1296 King Mengrai officially founds Chiang Mai as the the capital of the Lanna Kingdom.

In the late 15th century The kingdom reached the height its powers with King Yilokarts patronage of the eight Buddhist Council in 1477. This produced canonical texts which were used to form the religious system of Siam (Thailand) and Cambodia.

For over two centuries 1558 -1774 Chiang Mai was under Burmese control. Thai forces allied with the Siamese drove the Burmese out but the remaining population was too small to defend the city and it had to be abandoned . It was not until 1804 that the Burmese were finally pushed out of Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai heavily dependent on the timber trade suffered in the great depression. A railway Built in 1921 added economic integration.  In the late 1950s -1960s projects were implemented to develop rural infrastructure and agriculture to prevent the area falling to communism. The Border with Burma was closed during Ne Wins socialist coup in Burma in 1962.

The city has grown to 1.5 million with 250 thousand living in the city area alone. In 1996-7 the city celebrated its 700th anniversary.

Chiang Mai has had a long and mostly independent history which has helped to preserve a distinctive culture. Northern Thailand still maintains its own dialect, customs and cuisine, and in Chiang Mai there is a host of ancient temples, Thai architectural styles and culturally rich heritage.

Important Dates in Chiang Mai History:

1296  King Mangrai founds Chinag Mai.


1477  The Eight World Buddihist Council met at Wat Chet bringing Lanna culture to its zenith.


1545  An earthquake damaged the Phra Chedi Luang.


1558  Chiang Mai fell without struggle to the Burmese.


1774 Phraya Chaban of Chiang Mai and Chao Kawila of Lampang sided with Siamese against the Buremese and recaptured Chiang Mai.


1871 Chao Inthawichayanon was chosen to succeed the throne of Chiang Mai by a Siamese court in Bangkok.


1893 France forced Siam to cede Laos, which included territory within the traditional Lan Na.


1932 Chiang Mai become a province of Siam / Thailand