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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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The
North
is
the
birthplace
of
the
earliest
Thai
civilisation
and
has
many
sites
of
archaeological
and
cultural
interest.
Northern
people
are
famous
for
their
courtesy
and
hospitality,
and
the
region
is
also
noted
for
its
variety
of
cultural
traditions.
Many
tourists
from
the
surrounding
provinces
converge
on
Chiang
Mai
for
the
annual
Songkran
Festival,
and
to
Sukhothai
for
Loi
Krathong. |
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The
North
falls
into
two
distinct
areas,
the
plains
of
the
lower
north
from
Nakhon
Sawan
to
Sukhothai,
and
the
mountainous
upper
north
leading
to
borders
of
Myanmar
and
Laos.
The
mountain
ranges
along
the
borders
are
breathtaking,
with
waterfalls
and
fast-flowing
rivers
ideal
for
rafting.
They
are
also
the
home
of
many
ethnic
hill
people. |
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The
region
has
three
seasons,
hot
from
March
to
May,
wet
from
June
to
November
and
cool
from
December
to
February.
High
up
in
the
mountains,
though,
“cool”
may
often
mean
extremely
cold. |
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The
Thai
nation
had
its
origins
in
the
North,
in
city
states
that
were
gradually
incorporated
into
the
Lanna
kingdom
centred
on
Chiang
Mai.
Sukhothai
became
the
first
capital
of
Thailand,
but
the
influence
of
the
Lanna
states
of
Laos
and
Myanmar
can
be
clearly
seen
in
the
architecture
and
cuisine
of
the
North. |
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The
nomadic
hill
people
of
the
region
pursued
their
own
course,
moving
back
and
forth
across
frontiers.
There
are
six
main
tribal
groups,
Karen,
Hmong,
Lahu,
Mien,
Akha
and
Lisu,
each
with
its
own
unique
customs
and
clothing.
Today,
they
are
settled
in
villages
on
the
mountainsides,
a
great
attraction
for
travellers. |
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Most
overseas
visitors
make
for
Chiang
Mai,
the
northern
capital,
as a
base
for
visiting
ethnic
tribes,
soft
adventure
activities
and
shopping.
Further
north
still,
Chiang
Rai
and
Mae
Hong
Son
are
centres
for
rafting,
trekking
and
tours
of
tribal
villages.
To
the
south,
the
Historical
Park
at
Sukhothai
is
an
essential
destination
for
all
those
wishing
to
discover
more
about
the
history
and
culture
of
Thailand. |
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The
17
provinces
that
comprise
the
North
are
Chiang
Mai,
Chiang
Rai,
Tak,
Kamphaeng
Phet,
Lampang,
Lamphun,
Mae
Hong
Son,
Nakhon
Sawan,
Nan,
Phayao,
Phetchabun,
Phichit,
Uthai
Thani,
Phitsanulok,
Phrae,
Sukhothai,
and
Uttaradit. |
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