Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai hotels and travel guide, Thailand. Hotel reservation for Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

Chiang Mai is famous for its festivals, events and fairs which attracts thousands of visitors. Therefore it is recommended to book your accommodation in advance. Date : 16 to 18 January 2009
Venue : Bor Sang village, Chiang Mai
To celebrate success the village hosts a three-day festival every January. Streets are illuminated by lanterns, while hundreds of umbrellas are hung from the rafters and beams of houses and shops. Bands play, while villagers compete to design the year’s most attractive umbrella. Concerts, a food festival and beauty contest all compete for the attention of the audience, a mix of both tourists and residents, who gather here to celebrate Bor Sang’s innovative handicraft skills. Tawai Village, Chiang Mai
This fair features demonstration, contests and sales of wood carvings and local handicrafts. Products can be made within the fair. And includes local folk performances and a procession highlight on the entire range of popular northern Thailand wood crafts. Hosted by the Tawai village, Hang Dong district. Date : 6 - 8 February 2009
Venue : Nong Buak Hat Park, Chiang Mai
If you are obsessed with beautiful flowers and decorative plants, this is the festival for you. Experience these beautiful flower-decorated floats and a magnificent tapestry of floral splendor that blankets the land. There are also agricultural exhibitions, floral contents, and product sales by local groups of housewives.

Home and garden lovers discover Chiang Mai is a February showcase for exotic orchids, flowering plants and blooms that thrive in the northern valley’s temperate cool season. Particularly during the cool season months, mid-November through to February, this northern provinces justifies its title “Rose of the North.” But for flower lovers, who flock to this annual festival, 6 to 8 February in the town’s Buak Hat Park, there is far more to the town’s garden reputation than the impressive display of elegant roses.

Since 1977 when the annual festival was inaugurated, it has earned a reputation on par with similar events such as Japan Sakura Flower Festival and the Netherlands’ flower parades. This was further enhanced by the successful flower expo in 2006. Due variations of climate and its mountain landscapes, the Chiang Mai Flower Festival presents a diversity of blooms and flowers. Many of them, originally imported from temperate climes such as carnations, chrysanthemum, tulips, are displayed side-by-side with tropical flowers including exotic orchids. Nationwide An important Buddhist holiday honoring the event when 1,250 of Buddha's disciples congregated without previous agreement. Buddha gave an important sermon at this event. Buddhists carry flowers, lighted candles, and joss sticks while walking around a Chedi at the temple three times under the full moon. Featuring Lanna Thai New Year celebrations and festivities at temples, the city gates and around the city moat throughout the northern capital of Chiang Mai

One of the best places to experience Songkran is in Chiang Mai, where it is celebrated on a grand scale with a flavour uniquely and entirely its own, attracting visitors from far and wide. This year, Songkran Thai New Year festivities scheduled for April 13-15, will be held at temples, in the vicinity of the city’s gates and around the city moat.

Devout Buddhists visit the temple for merit-making and to listen to sermons. Lustral water is sprinkled on sacred Buddha images, such as the Phra Buddha Sihing image, and also poured over the hands of monks in a gesture of reverence. Donations are also made to the temple. Enjoy traditional Thai cultural performances held in the temple ground.

One of the highlights of the festival is the 'Songkran Beauty Queen Procession' that takes place on Songkran Day itself - April 13. Meanwhile, many other events leading up to the main attraction are spread over several days and it is here that the visitor gets to see various aspects of Chiang Mai, first hand, — its culture, cuisine, arts and crafts, as well as the friendly people.

Nationwide
A Buddhist holiday, in commemoration of the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. Chiang Mai Buddhists walk up to Suthep Temple at night to make merit Held at the Chedi Luang Temple, it lasts a week and is used to ask for peace and for rain to fall during the right seasons. The temple holds the city pillar which traditionally marks the center of a town. Nationwide Commemorates the first time that Buddha, his teachings, and his disciples were present. According to Buddhism, all three are needed for wholeness. On this day, Buddhists make merit at temples and sermons are preached. August 12, Nationwide Sept - Oct.
A festival special to North, it involves making merit by taking necessities to temples without designating which monk is to receive them. This festival varies slightly from place to place. Nationwide The end of the three month period when monks are not permitted to travel. An important merit making ceremony is held at Chiang Mai University, where monks from several different temples are asked to receive contributions of rice and dry food. Date : 27 October - 2 November 2009
Venue : Tha Phae Gate, banks of Ping River, Chiang Mai Municipal Office, Chiang Mai
Highlights :
An amazing procession of hanging lanterns, Krathong design contest, Miss Yi Peng beauty contest, light and sound presentation in Ping River, the ancient Thai Lanna Krathong activities, local cultural performances, and local handicrafts market in Lanna style. Nationwide The Pae Gate, Chiang Mai
A dishes, the n annual festival of Chiang Mai's great demonstrations on fruit carving and ancient Thai desserts, and beauty Lanna culture shows. Good food selling at a cheap price. Annual festival held at the Chiang Mai Government Center. Featuring a variety of products for sale, especially handicrafts show a beauty contest and games. Comes alive at night.

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