A buried city
Rediscovered in 1984.
Mathew Schwartz — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mathew Schwartz — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mathew Schwartz — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Iudexvivorum — CC0
The city that came before Chiang Mai: King Mangrai built it around 1286 on the bank of the Ping River as the first capital of the Lanna kingdom, but repeated river floods pushed him to build Chiang Mai a few years later. The old city was then abandoned and buried under river silt for centuries, until it was rediscovered in 1984. Today the ruins of more than twenty brick temples lie scattered among villages and fields, notably Wat Chedi Liam with its tiered, layered stupa, and Wat Chang Kham, still a working temple. The information centre at the entrance has a small exhibition on the city's history and finds. Wandering the site is free, with paid tours by horse-drawn carriage or small tram from the information centre, the most fun option with children; bicycles can also be hired. The centre opens in the daytime. From February to April, smoke from farm burning often hangs over the north, cutting visibility and air quality. A quiet half-day trip for history lovers, with few visitors, about fifteen minutes by car from the old city.
Rediscovered in 1984.
A tiered stupa.
A fun ride for children.
Saraphi, about 5 km south of the old city, Chiang Mai
For history lovers yes: it is quite different, quiet ruins among fields with no crowds. If short on time, prioritise the old-city temples and Doi Suthep.