Absorb a Sacred Ambience

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<h1>Absorb a Sacred Ambience</h1><strong> Author: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/profile_John Nathaniel.aspx'>John Nathaniel</a></strong><br /><p>Chiang Mai is considered by many to be the cultural capital of Thailand. It holds a special place in both the hearts of the Thai people as well as its innumerable visitors. It was founded in 1296 and because of its isolated and inaccessible location it retained much of its original culture. The city was once surrounded by mighty walls and a moat. Today, only bits of the walls remain along with the gates and the moat. The crumbling ruins protect the over 300 temples held within the walls. These temples have amazing architecture incorporating ideas and styles of Sri Lankan, Burmese and the local Lanna Thai origins. At the temples, you can see some very intricate wood carvings, naga staircases invoking the snake for protection, ancient murals and gold plated pagodas. Many of the temples are still in use and can get quite crowded on festival days. One of the main temples is Wat Phrathap Doi Suthep. This temple is built on the slopes of Mount or Doi Suthep. Its magnificent architecture and the reverence with which the Thai regard this temple make this a landmark in Chiang Mai. After visiting the exquisite temple, one can go all the way up to the peak for some phenomenal views. Wat Phra Singh is another very famous temple. It has fantastic Lanna murals and houses a Buddha whose origins are from Sri Lanka. Walk on a Pure Path The oldest temple is Wat Chiang Man. This is considered a royal temple with a crystal Buddha said to be endowed with the power of bringing rain. Each of the temples showcases different things and is special in varied ways. There are temples carved entirely out of wood, temples that are thronged with devotees and small temples on the outskirts that are desolate and deserted. Wat U Mong is a particularly serene temple and houses many monks even today. It has a profoundly spiritual atmosphere, particularly when the monks chant. A far cry from the tranquility of Wat U Mong is the bustling night bazaar where you can shop for bargains and sample some Thai delicacies. Khao Sai is considered a specialty of the region and a Bo Sang umbrella is a must-have souvenir. Most of the hotels in Chiang Mai are located around here. Loi Kroh road is where the residents of Chiang Mai congregate at night for a good time. Excitehotels.com Takes You to Exotic Hotels in Chiang Mai </p><strong>About the Author:</strong><br />Offering hot hotel deals and stunning discounts, <a rel="nofollow" href=http://www.excitehotels.com/>Excitehotels.com</a> leads visitors to <a rel="nofollow" href=http://www.excitehotels.com/chiang_mai_hotels.htm>Chiang Mai hotels</a> where they can experience the much-spoken about Thai hospitality, culture and cuisine. <p> Article Source: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Absorb-a-Sacred-Ambience_42550.aspx'> http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Absorb a Sacred Ambience_42550.aspx</a></p>

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