Thailand: A wooden house atop Chao Kavila's old earthen ramparts surrounding the city of Chiang Mai, northern Thailand

In the 6th year of the reign of Thai King Rama I (20 March 1736 – 7 September 1809), a decision was taken to resettle and revive the city of Chiang Mai as a bastion of Siamese power in the north. The task of re-establishment fell to Chao Kavila, ruler of Lampang, who was established as viceroy of the north at Chiang Mai in 2339 BE / 1796 CE and immediately began the task of resettling and defending the city.

Over the next four years, on Kavila's orders, Chiang Mai's city fortifications were restored and strengthened as a bulwark against frequent attacks from the Burmese. By 2343 BE /1800 CE the main walls and gates enclosing the old city had been rebuilt, and Kavila was able to turn his attention to the rapidly expanding southern and eastern suburbs, located between the old city and the River Ping - an area which today includes the Thapae, Changmoi and Changklan Roads, and which constitutes Chiang Mai's busy financial and commercial centre.

For the defense of this region a high earthen rampart, faced with brick and reinforced in places with brick bastions, was built southwards from Jaeng Ku Ruang, the old city's south-western corner. Curving first to the east and then northwards, these new ramparts encompassed a broad sweep of land between the present Tippanet and Thapae Road areas, before finally swinging north-westwards to rejoin the old city wall at the north-eastern, Sri Phum corner. On the outer side of this new wall, as an additional defense, local streams were redirected to form a moat - in the west, flowing southwards from the old city moat, the waters of the Huai Kaeo, or Emerald Stream, and in the east, flowing southwards to meet them, the waters of the Klong Mae Kha.

Copyright:

CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

David Henley

Credit:

Pictures From Asia