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	---> MORE Destinations: _________________________________ New Perspective of Chiang Rai at Latitude 19 VISITING A BORDER TOWN: Mae Sot – then and now The Poy Sang Long Festival in Mae Hong Son The Samoeng Strawberry Festival Far Out and Cool in Fang District PICTURE PERFECT Mon Jaem Chiang Mai Reflections and a Night Safari Adventure Wat Palad: The Temple below the Temple The Bua Tong Waterfall Park The Cave and Hot Springs of the Mae On Area A DAY TRIP TO DOI INTHANON Two wheels good four wheels…er… The Sino-Thai Dragon Temple of Wat Tha Ton Doi Inthanon - Thailand’s Highest Mountain Kad Mua - an all-you-need market Chiang Dao High! Chiang Mai’s Red Cross and Winter Fair Loy Krathong at Tak A RETREAT TO... Kwan Yin Bodhisattva Hall Living with nature: Galyani Vadhana District Treasures of Myanmar A Journey to Shangri-La Pha Wing Choo – A Lover's Cliff Wiangtakan – The Past Remains Rural Life and Natural Mystery in Chaiprakarn Taking Aim at Chiang Mai's Shooting Gallery Chiang Mai - Maerim - Samoeng Route Hot Springs (and eggs) Ratchaphruek Festival 2009 The 5th Lanna - Japan Festival 2009 Make a Day of it at the New Look Night Safari Mae Sa Snake Farm Marine Lives in a Mountainous Zoo X-Centre Mae Hong Son, Pang Oong and much more along the way... Mae Kampong Village Tiger Kingdom Pai: The Hub of Joy Flower Festival Annual Bo Sang Umbrella Festival at Bo Sang Village Wiang Kum Kam: The Underground Ancient City Loy Kratong: The Town's Joyful Festival Monkey Centre Maerim, Chiang Mai Baankwai Thai Maerim Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden THE ROYAL PALACE ON DOI SUTHEP The Night Safari Ban Saonak Chae Son National Park Lamphun's Wat Chamathevi Doi Tao Lake Mae Sai Bai the Beautiful Wieng Kum Kam Mae Klang Luang Village Doi Pui - Hmong Tribal Village Nan Province Wat Suan Dok Chiang Saen: a city in myth and reality One Night in Chiang Rai and a day across the border A trip full of tour guides Two Days and a Night in the Country The Sumptuous Angkhang Gourmet Tour AWAY FROM IT ALL IN NEARBY MAE WANG Children's Day at the Westernmost Point of Thailand To Lamphun Along the Road of Histories ESCAPING TO PAI A WINTER TRIP ON THE PING RIVER To the Back of Beyond, right on your doorstep Visiting the Shrine of the Elephant-Headed God Visiting Samui Back to Nature at Opkhan National Park Lost in the Chiang Mai Zoo Three Days through the Northern Countryside DOING A NINE-TEMPLE KARMA TRIP - Right Here in Chiang Mai An Early Summer Trip to the Thi Lo Su Falls Nan: Forest, Temples and the Salt of the Earth TREKKING AND TUCKING IN: Wawee Coffee Plantation Mai Long Yee - Lovely Whatever Else You Call It Magnificent Creatures at Wat Changkham Off to See Some Mural Paintings in Lampang The Salawin and the People of Tha Tafang A Hike in the Forest A Journey back in time A Long Night of Luxury in the Chiang Dao Valley Ice-cold in Omkoy A Quick Visit to a Karen Wedding Strawberry Fields Forever A quick ride to Jaesorn National Park A Journey to Wawee A Birding Trip for Newbies Nam Bor Phi Cave A Breath of Sea Air Shopping With a Difference: Kad Luang Airport ELEPHANTS AND ORCHIDS AND THE SNACKS IN BETWEEN Monsoon Miscellany MAE RIM LAGOON AN IMPRESSIVE TRIP - to the Sukantara Resort Visiting Luang Prabang, the Pearl on the Mekong River Phrae: refreshing trip, auspicious visits Up on the Mountain (again) at Khun Wang UP THE MOUNTAIN TO THUNG LUANG SINGAPORE - City of Parks A Short Sight-Seeing Trip to the Monkey Centre GIVE PAI A TRY! You won’t regret it A BUSY DAY’S VISIT TO SANKAMPAENG A Rainy Day Outing to Phrao Monsoon Miscellany TRIPPING AND TASTING ALONG THE HANDICRAFT HIGHWAYS

Wiangtakan – The Past Remains

Historical sites Ayudhaya, Sukhothai or Wiengkumkam have, for years, been well known as tourist destinations with tracks and evidence of the past. But recently I came across another destination, not far from Chiang Mai, with a preserved history that is also stunningly captivating.

Wiangtakan historical site is situated in small Takan village, Takan subdistrict in Sanpatong, Chiang Mai, located about 34 kilometers from the city down the Chiang Mai – Hod Road. In fact, you can even hop on a bus at Chiang Mai Gate fresh market to get there.

The overall area of the site is about 700 m x 400 m, surrounded by a moat and walls made of soil. The site is assumed to be an ancient city founded in the Haripunchai period at the beginning of Lanna Kingdom (18th - 22nd B.E). Most of the villagers here are Yong, their ancestors having migrated to the area during the time King Kawila ruled over Chiang Mai. The dominant spoken language is, of course, Yong.

Wiangtakan is an ancient town on a flat area around three kilometers from the Ping River. The town itself has small streams from the Mae Khan River that flow across and are presumed to be the irrigation system once used. Much of the evidence found, such as an ancient baked clay Buddha image, bronze Buddha image and Bodhisattva image in the Haripunchai (old Lamphun kingdom) style, suggests that the town was very prosperous during ancient times. In addition, there are many other historical sites and objects from the ancient Lanna period just waiting to be seen here.

Wiangtakan has also been mentioned in the tales of Buddhism and, according to ancient documents and legends, it is said that Lord Buddha once visited the village. In old Chiang Mai legends the town is called ‘Wiangpannatakan’ but the name was later altered. Furthermore, it is assumed that the town was one of great importance since King Mangrai (1804-1854 B.E.) ordered one Bodhi tree from India to be planted here. By 2101 B.E Wiangtakan had been colonized by the Burmese and aafterwards was left abandoned for twenty years. In 2339, King Kawila liberated Chiang Mai from Burma and took the Yong people to resettle there.

If you choose to visit this nearby historical site, I suggest you to drop by the six groups of historical sites within the area, which were renovated in 2009. The first group is centrally located and is the largest, covering 14 rai. Here you will see the Haripunchai style octagon platform pagoda and the Lanna style round pagoda. Historical objects buried under the area, such as baked clay Buddha images and ancient pottery of Yuan Dynasty (1823-1911 B.E.), were found and kept at Wat Takan Temple. This group is also divided into three small groups in which several pagodas and ancient walls are located.

The second group is located in the north, and is called the Ubosod since it was home to an old ubosod (assembly hall) with a bell-shaped pagoda. However, villagers recently renovated the old ubosod. The third group is located in the southwest. ‘Wat Ton Bodhi’ was named for the Bodhi tree planted there by King Mangrai. Located east of the area is the fourth group, ‘Wat Hua Kwuang’. This group is comprised mostly of historic debris, with the base of a pagoda and viharn (hall).

The fifth group is called Wat Phrachaokam Temple. It is located on the far-east side of the village where villagers found a bronze Buddha image that had been burned and turned black, thus the name Phrachaokam (phrachao refers to Buddha image, kam means dark color).

The sixth group, located quite far from the other five groups, is called ‘Wat Tonkok’. Here you’ll find a round pagoda, a bell-shaped pagoda with three layers of platform, and many other historical relics. Most of them are art and architectural items from the 8th - 22nd centuries B.E. or between the end of the Hariphunchai era and the beginning of the Lanna period.

Oh, and don’t forget to look in at the museum, situated near the first group of historical sites. It’s divided into three sections -- information center (plus living room and souvenir shop), museum (1 main building and 2 small buildings), parking area and restroom. It’ll add to the pleasure of your visit to this near-at-hand locus of Lanna’s past.

For more information .0-5331-1258 ext. 14