Elephant riding Chiang Mai Thailand

We rode a 15 year old elephant (just an adolescent) at the Maetamann Elephant Camp in Chiang Mai followed by the rafting down the Ping River. The old city of Chiang Mai with its fascinating indigenous cultural identity such as diverse dialects, cuisine, architecture, traditional values, festivals, handicrafts and classical dances is a prime location in its own right. In addition, the presence of hill tribes and their wealth of unique cultures enhance Chiang Mai's distinctive diversity. Chiang Mai literally means new city and has retained the name despite having celebrated its 700th anniversary in 1996. King Meng Rai founded the city as the capital of the Lanna (A Million Rice Fields) Kingdom on Thursday, 12th April 1296 during the same period of time as the establishment of the Sukhothai Kingdom. King Meng Rai the Great conferred with his friends, King Ramkhamhaeng of Sukhothai and King Ngam Muang of Phayao before choosing the site where the capital of the Lanna Kingdom was to be founded. From then, Chiang Mai not only became the capital and cultural core of the Lanna Kingdom, it was also the centre of Buddhism in northern Thailand. King Meng Rai himself was very religious and founded many of the city's temples, which are still important today.
At the height of its power, the Lanna Kingdom extended its territory far into Burma and Laos, and southwards to Kamphaeng Phet a province above Sukhothai.
The Burmese conquered the Lanna Kingdom in 1556 ending the dynasty founded by King Meng Rai that lasted over 250 years. As Burma had occupied Chiang Mai for nearly 200 years, Burmese architectural influences are visible in many temples. At the end of the 18th century, King Taksin the Great regrouped the Thais in the south and finally drove the Burmese out with the help of King Kawila of Lampang thereby regaining Thai independence from Burma. Chiang Mai was then governed by a succession of princes who ruled the north as a Siamese protectorate under the Chakri dynasty. In the late 19th century, King Rama V appointed a high commissioner in Chiang Mai and it was only in 1939 that Chiang Mai finally came under the direct control of the central government in Bangkok the same time the country was renamed Thailand.
In the past, Chiang Mai was only accessible by river and elephants. More convenient access was achieved only when the railway line was completed in the late 1920's. Moreover, the first motor vehicle driven directly from Bangkok arrived in Chiang Mai in 1932. Such isolation was more favorable to Chiang Mai as it helped to nurture and preserve the unique Lanna culture.
When we look at Chiang Mai today, it is the economic, cultural and communications hub of northern Thailand complete with excellent infrastructure, good roads, by passes and road tunnels, and reliable communications infrastructure.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Wiang
• Kum
• Kam
• Maetamann
• Elephant
• Camp
• Chiang
• Mai
• Chiangmai
• Ping
• River
• Thailand
• King
• Rama
• Chakri
• dynasty
• Burma
• Lampang
• La

[lucygraceoconnor19]

where is this i so wanna do it !!

[laurakat73]

@shean2560

if you really believe that then your a bit ignorant.. the pajaan is used to train elephants.. hardly any are trained with kindness

[laurakat73]

@JumpyAssasin

you should also be aware that the actual act of riding on the backs of elephants is bad for them and many have deformed spines after working in the tourist industry... and even if they are not using the stick it acts as a symbol of the beating they recieved when they were younger.. is that not disturbing?

visit a place like elephant nature park in chiang mai and you will understand the effects the tourist industry has on these elephants

[ryanmck1984]

super vid :)

[shean2560]

they are not torchured when thjey are baby"s if u really want to know how they know how they are trained they are trained by monks

[shean2560]

chiangmai is very very safe i havent been robed lol

i know fare few police in chiangmai and hangdong i know the big boss captain of the immigration and i know many tuktuk drivers too so im pretty safe there

[Dribbles101]

If your Uncle Jack helped you off an elephant, would you help your Uncle jack off an elephant?

[bkkzuzu]

Chaingmai is a very dangerous city. Local policemen are gangsters. They robbed me in the market. I stayed at Grand Varoros hotel and it's a brothel!

[astrozombiie]

i want to ride an elephant O.O

[JumpyAssasin]

then you dont know where to do it properly. Ive been here too and at night the elephants al set loose in the nature and come back automatically. these elephants live in a good environment as you see. the stick was never used and the trainers are deticated to 1 elephant per trainer.

Do your research before you judge