North Thailand

During the reign of King Chulalongkorn, northern Thailand was referred to as simply'Phayap'. Before that, some 9 600-700 years ago, this area was known as the 'Lanna Thai Kingdom', the center of which was at Nopburi Sri Nakhon Phing Chiangmai, located on the Ping River basin. Another strong state, known as the 'Nanthaburi Sri Nakhon Nan' was established during the same period on the Nan River basin. For this reason, the Lanna Kingdom was divided into two major parts. One was western Lanna with Chiang Mai as the center, and the other was eastern Lanna, with Nan at the centre.

It occupies an approximate area of 170,000 sq. km or the equivalent of 106 million rai, bordering on the territories of Laos and Myanmar.

The north is the home of Thailand's earliest civilization and is famous for its beautiful women, and hospitable and courteous people, as well as many sites of archaeological and cultural interest such as the Ancient City of Sukhothai and Buddha's Relics at Wat Doi Suthep of Chiang Mai, a highly revered place for northerners; Phra Buddha Chinarat, which is said to be the most beautiful Buddha image in the whole of Thailand, at Wat Phra Si Ratana-Mahathat in Phitsanulok. Bhumibol Dam, the largest dam in Thailand, and the world's seventh largest is also up north in Tak.

In addition, the northern region is the home of Thailand's many colorful hill tribe people such as the Lahu of Tak and the Yao, Akha, Karen, Hmong, and Lisu tribes of the Chiangmai and Chiangrai moutain ranges.

The North is also noted for its rich cultural traditions, and many tourists from the surrounding provinces flock to Chiangmai for the annual Songkran Festival, and to Sukhothai for Loi Krathong.

The North is accesible by a good network of highways within the region itself and inter-regional highways.