People
The people of Chiang Mai vary, The majority are farmers and artisans who speak their own melodic dialects and have their intrinsic traditions, festivals, architectural styles, original handicrafts, classical dances and distinguished cuisine. Hill tribes add to the variety by having a wealth of ancestral cultrure.

Festivals
BO SANG Umbrella Fair and San Kamphaeng Handicrafts Festival
Every January, the Umbrella Fair is held on the main street of bo Sang Village of Chiang Mai province. The Fair features various contests, parades and numerous booths selling umbrellas. Various displays of other handidrafts demonstrate other traditional skills.


Wat Chedi Luang
On Prapokkhao Road is a massive pagoda which was built under the to enshrine the relics of his forefather in Chiangmai. In 1545, Wat Chedi Luang was destroyed by an earthquake and the temple lay in ruins until 1991, when reconstruction began. The chedi was 90 meters high before the earthquade, which was then the tallest building for over 500 years. The restored chedi now stands 60 meters high.

Wat Suan Dok
It was built in 1383 on what is now called Suthep Road. The name is a reflection of the pleasure gardens built here for the monarchs of Lanna Thai. It has two major attractions: the first is its big wooden Viharn that is built in the style of an open-sided pavilion and houses a 500-year old Buddha image, while the second attraction is outside the Viharn where a brilliant white chedi that was built in the 14th century can be seen. Next to it is a large number of smaller, also brilliant white chedis, under which the ashes of Chiang Mai nobles were buried.

Wat Phra Sing
The temple dates back to 1345 and is one of the centers of festivities during Songkran. In the compound at Sam Lan Road is a chapel called Lai Kham, where ancient woodcarving, murals, bars, relief works, and a sacred Buddha image are housed. One of it's most beautiful buildings is the small Lanna-style teakwood Ho Trai (library), the base of which is decorated with lovely white stucco angels.

Wat Phratat Doi Suthep
One of the most revered temples is a major pilgrimage destination during Makha Buja and Visak. Legend has it that a Buddha relic magically replicated just before it was about to be enshrined in the big chedi at Wat Suan Dok. The duplicated relic was placed on an elephant’s back, which was allowed to climb to the top of Suthep Mountain. It trumpeted three times, turned around three times, knelt and died. The chedi was built on the spot where it died.


Bird Watching
Northern Thailand’s faunafriendly hills, forests and wildlife sanctuaries are good observation spots for birdwatchers. Doi Suthep and Doi Inthanon are some of the most popular, with the treasure of birds of diverse species.