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THE
NORTH I CENTRAL
&
EAST
COAST I THE
NORTHEAST I THE
SOUTH |
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Chiang
Mai
I
Chiang
Rai
I
Kamphaengphet
I
Lampang
I
Lamphun
I
Mae
Hong
Son
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Tak
I
Nakhon
Sawan
I
Nan
I
Phayao
I
Phetchabun
I
Phichit
I
Phitsanulok
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Phrae
I
Sukhothai
I
Uthai
Thani
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 Chiang Rai, the northernmost province of Thailand is about 785 kilometers
north
of
Bangkok.
Situated
on
the
Kok
River
basin,
Chiang
Rai
covers
an
area
of
approximately
11,678
square
meters
with
an
average
elevation
of
580
meters
above
sea
level.
The
province,
which
is
located
within
the
renowned
Golden
Triangle
area
where
Myanmar,
Laos
and
Thailand
converge,
is
also
known
as
the
gateway
to
Myanmar,
Laos
and
Southern
China. |
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Chiang Rai, which was founded in 1262 by King Meng Rai,
was
the
first
capital
of
the
Lanna
Thai
Kingdom
(Kingdom
of a
million
rice
fields),
which
was
later
conquered
by
Burma.
It
was
not
until
1786
that
Chiang
Rai
became
a
Thai
territory
and
was
proclaimed
a
province
during
the
reign
of
King
Rama
VI
in
1910. |
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Today, Chiang Rai is a travelers paradise endowed with abundant
natural
tourist
attractions
and
antiquities;
the
province
itself
is
evidence
of
past
civilization.
Attractions
range
from
magnificent
mountain
scenery,
ruins
of
ancient
settlements,
historic
sites,
Buddhist
shrines
and
ethnic
villages
as
the
province
is
also
home
to
several
hill
tribes
who
maintain
fascinating
lifestyles.
For
those
interested
in
the
natural
side
of
Chiang
Rai,
jungle
trekking
is
recommended
along
various
trails. |
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Chiang Rai which tends to be a little more 'laid back' now competes
with
Chiang
Mai
as a
tourist
attraction
and
is
fast
becoming
a
popular
escape
for
tourists
wanting
to
get
away
from
the
troubles
they
left
behind. |
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