Before our trip to Chiang Mai, my friend and I already spent countless of hours researching on what to do and what tours to join. I came across Travel Hub Chiang Mai while researching on the internet and found that they had competitive rates. Reaching them for inquiries was not a problem as they were prompt to answer my emails. We booked all our join in tours with them and we didn't regret with their fast, easy and reliable service.
The first join in tour we booked with them was Half day Doi Suthep Temple Tour. Since we arrived in Chiang Mai in the morning, we took the afternoon tour. Pick up time was around 1pm- 1:30pm. Being excited and ready, we settled in the reception while waiting for our pick up.
Our guide and pick up arrived at 1:30pm and we settled into a van. There were 10 other people who were with us during the tour. The guide started to introduce herself. Her name is Moon and the driver's name is Sem. She told us that there is a total of 44 temples in Chiang Mai. More temples meant more power back in the days. Their kingdom - Lanna Kingdom, was not the same as that of Siam (Bangkok).
The first thing we did was visit the Doi Pui Hmong Village. We we were able to see a lot of stores with their hand crafted materials.
There was also a hill tribe museum and garden near the top of the hill. Entrance fee was 10 Baht.
Articles and display of tools where inside this crude hut turned museum.
Upon exiting the museum is this cool garden at the top.
We then headed out to Doi Suthep Temple. It is one of Northern Thailand's most sacred temples. There are 2 ways to come up to the temple. One way is to reach the top by a strenuous 306 step staircase. For Buddhist pilgrims, taking this climb will help accrue merits. Another way is to take the funicular style lift. Sources say that this is 20THB per person for the lift. We took the lift on our way up.
We saw the top of the staircase. I think the climb is not too bad.
Shoes are asked to be taken off upon entering the temple grounds. One must be appropriately dressed when going into the inner grounds. A sarong was handed out for guests who were wearing sleeveless shirts and shorts. There are numerous pagodas, statues, bells and shrines within the site.
A lot of Buddha statues are around the chedi. They are in amazing variety of poses and materials.
According to the legend, the relic of the bone said to be from the shoulder of Buddha was placed on the back of a sacred white elephant which was allowed to roam anywhere it wanted. The elephant eventually climbed to the top of Suthep mountain. It then trumpeted and turned around three times, knelt and eventually died. This was taken as the sign as the spot where the relic wanted to be.
This is the gleaming golden chedi that enshrines the relic. My friend and I walked around the chedi for 3 times as it is believed to be for good luck.
Getting a blessing from the monk.
Outside the temple ground is the viewpoint overlooking Chiang Mai City. The airport and its runway is visible from here.
We chose to try the staircase on our way down.
At the base of the temple and its streets are a number of stores selling souvenirs, food stalls and jade factories. It was fun to look at the different things available for sale.
Though it was a very short tour, it was still an afternoon well spent. Thank you and 'til my next blog! :)
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