History of Thapae Gate

Liam Davies — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:02:35 +0000

Welcome to Thapae Gate – the east entrance to the old city, a fortified square encased by a moat and tall walls, built way back in the 13th century. This gate has been a silent spectator to the region’s history for nearly 800 years, acting as a grand entrance for merchants, diplomats, and monks during the days of the Lanna Kingdom.

You will likely have the opportunity to walk through Thapae Gate if your staying at a hotel inside the moat or visiting the old city. It’s the starting point for the Sunday Walking Street Market and around it there are numerous small streets with cafes, bars, souvenirs shops, book shops. While the many pigeons in the square won’t interest most visitors, it’s pleasant to walk around at night. There’s not much in the way of information besides a map, it’s been redeveloped over time and a road now occupies a direct line to the square, so you’ll need to image how it was with a large river meeting the moat. ‘Thapae’ means ‘to float’ in the Northern Thai dialect, signifying the gate’s original use as a docking point for rafts that would ‘float’ down the Mae Ping River. The current Thapae Gate that you see is a recreation from the 1980s, rebuilt according to architectural records and archaeological evidence.

Thapae Gate has a role in some of the city’s most exciting events. Chiang Mai’s most popular festivals, Loy Krathong and Songkran, see the gate and surrounding streets swarming with locals and tourists, bringing the old structure alive with celebrations, music, and dance.

The wall surrounding the city originally had five gates, each having a specific purpose and named according to the direction it faced. Thapae was the eastern gate, and the only one to retain its historical relevance and popularity to date.

Thapae Gate is not just an ancient structure; it’s a living, breathing part of Chiang Mai’s culture and history, where stories of the past meet the vibrancy of the present.

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History of the Emerald Buddha

Liam Davies — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 05:17:34 +0000

Thailand’s Emerald Buddha is a small but precious stone statue that has a rich history shrouded in mystery. It was once located in Chiang Mai at Wat Chedi Luang but after a long journey it was eventually moved to the Grand Palace in Bangkok where it can be seen today.

The exact origins of the Emerald Buddha are uncertain. According to one account, the statue was created in India in 43 BC, it then moved around various locations in India and Sri Lanka, before appearing in Cambodia in the Angkor period.

The Emerald Buddha re-emerged in historical accounts in 1434, when it was discovered in a stupa in Chiang Rai after a lightning strike revealed it. At that time, the statue was covered in plaster to conceal its true value, and it was only after being moved to the abbot’s residence and chipped by accident that the plaster was found to be hiding a valuable jade statue.

The Emerald Buddha was then moved around various cities in Northern Thailand and Laos over the subsequent centuries. It stayed in Laos until 1778 when it was taken and installed in its current location in the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

Despite the statue’s name, the Emerald Buddha is not made of emerald but rather of jade or some other green semi-precious stone.

The Emerald Buddha has a deep cultural and historical significance for the people of Thailand and is considered the protector of the country. It’s one of the most revered religious objects in Thailand. Despite its small size, it has had a big impact on Thai society and culture.

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History of Thapae Gate

History of the Emerald Buddha