Home » Images » 0044 Pictures From History » CPA0021578

Thailand: Stucco thewada (angels) adorn the Maha Chedi (Great Chedi), Wat Chet Yot (Seven Spires), Chiang Mai, northern Thailand

The Buddhist temple of Wat Chet Yot (Jet Yod) was constructed in 1455 CE by King Tilokarat in the style of the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, India. Bodh Gaya was where Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, attained enlightenment.

Chiang Mai, sometimes written as 'Chiengmai' or 'Chiangmai', is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand, and is the capital of Chiang Mai Province. It is located 700 km (435 mi) north of Bangkok, among the highest mountains in the country. The city is on the Ping river, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya river.

King Mengrai founded the city of Chiang Mai (meaning 'new city') in 1296, and it succeeded Chiang Rai as capital of the Lanna kingdom. The ruler was known as the Chao. The city was surrounded by a moat and a defensive wall, since nearby Burma was a constant threat.

Chiang Mai formally became part of Siam in 1774 by an agreement with Chao Kavila, after the Thai King Taksin helped drive out the Burmese. Chiang Mai then slowly grew in cultural, trading and economic importance to its current status as the unofficial capital of northern Thailand, second in importance only to Bangkok.