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Many Thai people believe that every house should have its own spirit house providing for the well-being of the locality spirit. These may be anywhere in the garden (even, in big cities, on the roof), with the important proviso that the shadow of human habitation should never fall on the spirit house, the home of the original and true owner of the land – the <i>chao thii</i>.<br/><br/> Naturally, this belief extends to shops and commerce as well. Scarcely a business in Thailand – from corner shop to multinational – is without at least one, and often two spirit houses. The first of these, raised on a pillar or in some high place, is purely Thai in origin. The second, generally to be found on the ground and decorated with Chinese characters and images of Confucian or Taoist sages, is purely Chinese and represents the pre-eminent position of Thai-Chinese in the world of commerce.
Many Thai people believe that every house should have its own spirit house providing for the well-being of the locality spirit. These may be anywhere in the garden (even, in big cities, on the roof), with the important proviso that the shadow of human habitation should never fall on the spirit house, the home of the original and true owner of the land – the <i>chao thii</i>.<br/><br/> Naturally, this belief extends to shops and commerce as well. Scarcely a business in Thailand – from corner shop to multinational – is without at least one, and often two spirit houses. The first of these, raised on a pillar or in some high place, is purely Thai in origin. The second, generally to be found on the ground and decorated with Chinese characters and images of Confucian or Taoist sages, is purely Chinese and represents the pre-eminent position of Thai-Chinese in the world of commerce.
Thanaka (also spelt thanakha) is a yellowish-white cosmetic paste made from ground bark. It is a distinctive feature of Myanmar (formerly Burma) seen commonly applied to the face and sometimes the arms of women and girls and to a lesser extent men and boys. The use of thanaka has also spread to neighboring countries including Thailand.<br/><br/> The earliest literary reference to thanaka is in a 14th century poem written by Mon-speaking King Razadarit's consort. Mentions of thanaka also exist in the 15th century literary works of Burmese monk-poet Shin Maharatthasara (1486-1529).<br/><br/> The wood of several trees may be used to produce thanaka cream; these trees grow abundantly in central Myanmar. They include principally <i>Murraya spp.</i> (<i>thanaka</i>), but also <i>Limonia acidissima</i> (<i>theethee</i> or wood apple).<br/><br/> Thanaka trees are perennials, and a tree must be at least 35 years old before it is considered mature enough to yield good-quality cuttings. Thanaka in its natural state is sold as small logs individually or in bundles, but nowadays also available as a paste or in powder form.<br/><br/> Thanaka cream has been used by Burmese women for over 2000 years. It has a fragrant scent somewhat similar to sandalwood. The creamy paste is applied to the face in attractive designs, the most common form being a circular patch on each cheek, sometimes made stripey with the fingers known as <i>thanaka bè gya</i>, or patterned in the shape of a leaf, often also highlighting the bridge of the nose with it at the same time.
Many Thai people believe that every house should have its own spirit house providing for the well-being of the locality spirit. These may be anywhere in the garden (even, in big cities, on the roof), with the important proviso that the shadow of human habitation should never fall on the spirit house, the home of the original and true owner of the land – the <i>chao thii</i>.<br/><br/> Naturally, this belief extends to shops and commerce as well. Scarcely a business in Thailand – from corner shop to multinational – is without at least one, and often two spirit houses. The first of these, raised on a pillar or in some high place, is purely Thai in origin. The second, generally to be found on the ground and decorated with Chinese characters and images of Confucian or Taoist sages, is purely Chinese and represents the pre-eminent position of Thai-Chinese in the world of commerce.
Ta Prohm was built in the Bayon style largely in the late 12th and early 13th centuries and originally called Rajavihara. It is located 1km east of Angkor Thom. It was founded by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university.<br/><br/> The trees growing out of the ruins are perhaps the most distinctive feature of Ta Prohm. Two species predominate, but sources disagree on their identification: the larger is either the silk-cotton tree (Ceiba pentandra) or thitpok (Tetrameles nudiflora), and the smaller is either the strangler fig (Ficus gibbosa) or Gold Apple (Diospyros decandra).
Yaksha is the name of a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, who are caretakers of the natural treasures hidden in the earth and tree roots. They appear in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist mythology.<br/><br/> Lampang was originally founded during the 7th century Dvaravati period. Nothing remains from these early times, but the city is rich in temples, many of which have a distinctly Burmese flavour as Lampang had a substantial Burmese population in the 19th century, most of whom were involved in the logging industry.
Yaksha is the name of a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, who are caretakers of the natural treasures hidden in the earth and tree roots. They appear in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist mythology.<br/><br/> Lampang was originally founded during the 7th century Dvaravati period. Nothing remains from these early times, but the city is rich in temples, many of which have a distinctly Burmese flavour as Lampang had a substantial Burmese population in the 19th century, most of whom were involved in the logging industry.
Yaksha is the name of a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, who are caretakers of the natural treasures hidden in the earth and tree roots. They appear in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist mythology.<br/><br/> Lampang was originally founded during the 7th century Dvaravati period. Nothing remains from these early times, but the city is rich in temples, many of which have a distinctly Burmese flavour as Lampang had a substantial Burmese population in the 19th century, most of whom were involved in the logging industry.
Yaksha is the name of a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, who are caretakers of the natural treasures hidden in the earth and tree roots. They appear in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist mythology.<br/><br/> Lampang was originally founded during the 7th century Dvaravati period. Nothing remains from these early times, but the city is rich in temples, many of which have a distinctly Burmese flavour as Lampang had a substantial Burmese population in the 19th century, most of whom were involved in the logging industry.
Many Thai people believe that every house should have its own spirit house providing for the well-being of the locality spirit. These may be anywhere in the garden (even, in big cities, on the roof), with the important proviso that the shadow of human habitation should never fall on the spirit house, the home of the original and true owner of the land – the chao thii.<br/><br/> Naturally, this belief extends to shops and commerce as well. Scarcely a business in Thailand – from corner shop to multinational – is without at least one, and often two spirit houses. The first of these, raised on a pillar or in some high place, is purely Thai in origin. The second, generally to be found on the ground and decorated with Chinese characters and images of Confucian or Taoist sages, is purely Chinese and represents the pre-eminent position of Thai-Chinese in the world of commerce.<br/><br/> Lampang was originally founded during the 7th century Dvaravati period. Nothing remains from these early times, but the city is rich in temples, many of which have a distinctly Burmese flavour as Lampang had a substantial Burmese population in the 19th century, most of whom were involved in the logging industry.
Many Thai people believe that every house should have its own spirit house providing for the well-being of the locality spirit. These may be anywhere in the garden (even, in big cities, on the roof), with the important proviso that the shadow of human habitation should never fall on the spirit house, the home of the original and true owner of the land – the chao thii.<br/><br/> Naturally, this belief extends to shops and commerce as well. Scarcely a business in Thailand – from corner shop to multinational – is without at least one, and often two spirit houses. The first of these, raised on a pillar or in some high place, is purely Thai in origin. The second, generally to be found on the ground and decorated with Chinese characters and images of Confucian or Taoist sages, is purely Chinese and represents the pre-eminent position of Thai-Chinese in the world of commerce.<br/><br/> Lampang was originally founded during the 7th century Dvaravati period. Nothing remains from these early times, but the city is rich in temples, many of which have a distinctly Burmese flavour as Lampang had a substantial Burmese population in the 19th century, most of whom were involved in the logging industry.
Yaksha is the name of a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, who are caretakers of the natural treasures hidden in the earth and tree roots. They appear in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist mythology.<br/><br/> Lampang was originally founded during the 7th century Dvaravati period. Nothing remains from these early times, but the city is rich in temples, many of which have a distinctly Burmese flavour as Lampang had a substantial Burmese population in the 19th century, most of whom were involved in the logging industry.
Wiang Tha Khan, located 16km south of Chiang Mai in rural Sanpatong District, is a small and prosperous Northern Thai village set amid Lamyai plantations and inhabited by Tai Yong resettled from nearby Shan State in Burma at the beginning of the 19th century. As long ago as the 10th century CE it was a fortified city or ‘wiang’ serving as an outlying bastion of the Mon Kingdom of Haripunchai, today’s Lamphun. Today the remains of the city walls and surrounding moat survive amid the Lamyai plantations and rice fields, as well as the remains of 11 separate temples founded during the Mon Period (c. 9th-12th centuries CE), but dating in their present form from the Tai Kingdom of Lan Na (12th -16th centuries CE).<br/><br/> The most important site includes Wat Klang Muang, located in the centre of the village, with a small museum. Other more important temples include Wat Ubosot, Wat Ton Kok and Ku Mai Daeng. The entire complex was surveyed and restored by the Thai Fine Arts Department in the 1980s, and a record of their finding was published (in Thai) in 1991.<br/><br/> Wiang Tha Kan may be seen as a similar Mon outpost to nearby Wiang Kum Kam, located about 6km south of Chiang Mai on the Lamphun Road, a similarly fortified settlement guarding the Mon capital at Haripunchai. Two other fortified Mon settlements remain to be excavated.
Wiang Tha Khan, located 16km south of Chiang Mai in rural Sanpatong District, is a small and prosperous Northern Thai village set amid Lamyai plantations and inhabited by Tai Yong resettled from nearby Shan State in Burma at the beginning of the 19th century. As long ago as the 10th century CE it was a fortified city or ‘wiang’ serving as an outlying bastion of the Mon Kingdom of Haripunchai, today’s Lamphun. Today the remains of the city walls and surrounding moat survive amid the Lamyai plantations and rice fields, as well as the remains of 11 separate temples founded during the Mon Period (c. 9th-12th centuries CE), but dating in their present form from the Tai Kingdom of Lan Na (12th -16th centuries CE).<br/><br/> The most important site includes Wat Klang Muang, located in the centre of the village, with a small museum. Other more important temples include Wat Ubosot, Wat Ton Kok and Ku Mai Daeng. The entire complex was surveyed and restored by the Thai Fine Arts Department in the 1980s, and a record of their finding was published (in Thai) in 1991.<br/><br/> Wiang Tha Kan may be seen as a similar Mon outpost to nearby Wiang Kum Kam, located about 6km south of Chiang Mai on the Lamphun Road, a similarly fortified settlement guarding the Mon capital at Haripunchai. Two other fortified Mon settlements remain to be excavated.
Wiang Tha Khan, located 16km south of Chiang Mai in rural Sanpatong District, is a small and prosperous Northern Thai village set amid Lamyai plantations and inhabited by Tai Yong resettled from nearby Shan State in Burma at the beginning of the 19th century. As long ago as the 10th century CE it was a fortified city or ‘wiang’ serving as an outlying bastion of the Mon Kingdom of Haripunchai, today’s Lamphun. Today the remains of the city walls and surrounding moat survive amid the Lamyai plantations and rice fields, as well as the remains of 11 separate temples founded during the Mon Period (c. 9th-12th centuries CE), but dating in their present form from the Tai Kingdom of Lan Na (12th -16th centuries CE).<br/><br/> The most important site includes Wat Klang Muang, located in the centre of the village, with a small museum. Other more important temples include Wat Ubosot, Wat Ton Kok and Ku Mai Daeng. The entire complex was surveyed and restored by the Thai Fine Arts Department in the 1980s, and a record of their finding was published (in Thai) in 1991.<br/><br/> Wiang Tha Kan may be seen as a similar Mon outpost to nearby Wiang Kum Kam, located about 6km south of Chiang Mai on the Lamphun Road, a similarly fortified settlement guarding the Mon capital at Haripunchai. Two other fortified Mon settlements remain to be excavated.
The Gangatilaka Vihara, built in the 1960s, is a huge hollow dagoba next to the Kalu Ganga river.
Saṅghamittā (Saṅghamitrā in Sanskrit) was the grand daughter of Emperor Bindusara and daughter of Emperor Ashoka and his wife, Devi. Together with Mahinda, her brother, she entered an order of Buddhist monks. The two siblings later went to Sri Lanka to spread the teachings of Buddha at the request of King Devanampiya Tissa (250 – 210 BCE) who was a contemporary of Ashoka (304 – 232 BCE).<br/><br/> The Mahavamsa (Sinhala: මහාවංසය ; Pali: Mahāvaṃsa, trans. 'Great Chronicle)', is a historical poem written in the Pali language, of the Kings of Sri Lanka. The first version covers the period from the coming of King Vijaya of the Rarh region of ancient Bengal in 543 BCE to the reign of King Mahasena (334–361 CE).
Wat Lok Moli or ‘topknot of the world’ is thought to have been founded by King Ku Na, the 6th king of the Mangrai Dynasty (1263–1578), who ruled the Lan Na Kingdom from Chiang Mai between about 1367 and 1388. It was probably a royal temple, since the northern side of the city was a royal precinct at the time; certainly the sanctuary enjoyed a long and close association with the Mangrai rulers. According to a notice at the south entrance of the temple, King Ku Na invited a group of ten monks from Burma to come and live in Chiang Mai, providing Lok Moli as a residence for them.<br/><br/> The huge chedi that distinguishes Lok Moli was built in 1527, perhaps after the orders of the 11th Mangrai monarch, King Muang Kaeo (1495–1526), but apparently during the first year of the first reign of his younger brother, King Ket Chettharat (1526–1538).
Wat Lok Moli or ‘topknot of the world’ is thought to have been founded by King Ku Na, the 6th king of the Mangrai Dynasty (1263–1578), who ruled the Lan Na Kingdom from Chiang Mai between about 1367 and 1388. It was probably a royal temple, since the northern side of the city was a royal precinct at the time; certainly the sanctuary enjoyed a long and close association with the Mangrai rulers. According to a notice at the south entrance of the temple, King Ku Na invited a group of ten monks from Burma to come and live in Chiang Mai, providing Lok Moli as a residence for them.<br/><br/> The huge chedi that distinguishes Lok Moli was built in 1527, perhaps after the orders of the 11th Mangrai monarch, King Muang Kaeo (1495–1526), but apparently during the first year of the first reign of his younger brother, King Ket Chettharat (1526–1538).
Wat Phrathat Doi Kham or ‘Temple of the Golden Mount’, is located in Tambon Mae Hia, about 10km south of Chiang Mai Old City, in the lee of Doi Suthep. Temple records claim that the temple dates back over 1,300 years ‘to 687 AD’, during the pre-Lan Na period when the region was inhabited by the indigenous animist Lawa.<br/><br/> Chiang Mai (meaning "new city"), sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. King Mengrai founded the city of Chiang Mai in 1296, and it succeeded Chiang Rai as capital of the Lanna kingdom.
Wat Phrathat Doi Kham or ‘Temple of the Golden Mount’, is located in Tambon Mae Hia, about 10km south of Chiang Mai Old City, in the lee of Doi Suthep. Temple records claim that the temple dates back over 1,300 years ‘to 687 AD’, during the pre-Lan Na period when the region was inhabited by the indigenous animist Lawa.<br/><br/> Chiang Mai (meaning "new city"), sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. King Mengrai founded the city of Chiang Mai in 1296, and it succeeded Chiang Rai as capital of the Lanna kingdom.
Wat Phrathat Doi Kham or ‘Temple of the Golden Mount’, is located in Tambon Mae Hia, about 10km south of Chiang Mai Old City, in the lee of Doi Suthep. Temple records claim that the temple dates back over 1,300 years ‘to 687 AD’, during the pre-Lan Na period when the region was inhabited by the indigenous animist Lawa.<br/><br/> Chiang Mai (meaning "new city"), sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. King Mengrai founded the city of Chiang Mai in 1296, and it succeeded Chiang Rai as capital of the Lanna kingdom.
Wat Phrathat Doi Kham or ‘Temple of the Golden Mount’, is located in Tambon Mae Hia, about 10km south of Chiang Mai Old City, in the lee of Doi Suthep. Temple records claim that the temple dates back over 1,300 years ‘to 687 AD’, during the pre-Lan Na period when the region was inhabited by the indigenous animist Lawa.<br/><br/> Chiang Mai (meaning "new city"), sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. King Mengrai founded the city of Chiang Mai in 1296, and it succeeded Chiang Rai as capital of the Lanna kingdom.
Abandoned in the late 13th century CE, and now in ruins, Wiang Kum Kam was once the capital of Thailand’s northern region, and is located just south of Chiang Mai. It was built by King Mangrai at some time in the 13th century after his victory over the Hariphunchai kingdom of modern-day Lamphun. However, after the city had flooded several times, Mangrai decided to relocate the capital of his kingdom, and moved it farther north on the River Ping to a site that is now the city of Chiang Mai.<br/><br/> Wiang Kum Kam was abandoned in 1290 CE, although some records suggest a community called Chang Kham lived there before or after the Burmese seizure of Chiang Mai in 1558.