North Thailand
North Thailand is quite distinct from the Central Plains. Beyond Tak and Sukhothai the lowlands give way to a region of rolling hills and fertile valleys. Teak forests and work elephants are most characteristic than paddy fields and water buffalo. Fruit and vegetables more common the temperate climes and cultivated in addiction to rice, while hidden on mountain slopes are opium poppies. Art, architecture and handicrafts are also distinctive, with the unique styles of the North tinged with Burmese influences. The people are different too, proud of their separate heritage and distinguished especially twofold: upland scenery populated by hill tribes, ethnic minorities who more or less maintain traditional lifestyles, and cultural sights attesting to the rich heritage of the former Lanna kingdom.
Hub of the North is Chiang Mai, nearly 700km north of Bangkok. This was the ancient Lanna capital, founded in the 13th century, and is today a burgeoning regional centre offering excellent accommodation and other modern facilities amid the well preserved attractions of a historic town. In the far north is Chinag Rai, set amid rugged hill country, famous Golden Triangle and ancient settlement Chiang Saen on the banks of the Mekong River. To the west is Mae Hong Son, an enchanting Shangri-La, and to the east is Nan, of great interest though rarely visited.
Hill tribes of the North
Not least of the North's attractions are the various hill tribes who inhabit the jungle-covered mountain slopes. These are people of separate ethnic origin who cling to traditional tribal ways that are fast vanishing.
Opium cultivation in the area sensationally dubbed the ‘Golden Triangle' has served to focus popular attention on the hill tribes. However, while some do grow poppies as a cash crop as well as use opium as a traditional cure-all medicine, many other has nothing to do with a drug trade.
An estimated 250,000 to 500,000 tribes people live in the North, split into seven major groups - Karen, Meo, Akha, Lahu, Lawa, Lisu and Yao. All retain distinct cultures, language and religious beliefs (mostly animistic), though their most obvious distinction is their dress. The women of each tribe - and to a far lesser degree the men - have their own traditional style of colorful, elaborate costume. Handicraft skills, notably in weaving, embroidery and making silver jewellery, are well developed.
Being semi-nomadic, the tribe's people are poor and support themselves mostly by splash-and-burn agriculture. Even those who cultivate opium see little of the profits. In efforts to raise living standards and alleviate deep-rooted problems -dire poverty, drugs and environmentally destructive agricultural practices - a number of government and Royal project have been instigated in recent years. Most are aimed at education and cash-crop substitution programs, the later having a notable effect in reducing the extent of opium cultivation.
 Northern Thailand Hotels
Bookmark Us!
Currency Rates
Community Login
Members Online
Weather Thailand
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
||||||
Latest Thai News
- Sarkozy tells Carla to end holiday with lover (source: Thailand news)
- Scotiabank's Thai Affiliate To Buy 48% Stake In Siam City Bank - Update (source: Thailand news)
- Scotiabank's Thai Affiliate To Buy 48% Stake In Siam City Bank - Update (source: Thailand news)
- Thais, Stars Crazy For 'super-human Tats' (source: Big News Network)
- Thais, Stars Crazy For 'super-human Tats' (source: Big News Network)
- Thailand Starts Mobilising Troops Ahead Of Mass Rallies (source: Big News Network)
- Thai Troops Mobilized Ahead Of Anti-government Protest (source: Big News Network)
- Phuket Chinese Cemetery Ablaze Again (source: Big News Network)
- Media Caught In Red-or-yellow Divide Too (source: Thailand news)
- //d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20100311/largeimage.photo_1268285714051-1-0.jpgx=100&y=69&xc=1&yc=1&wc=512&hc=353&q=85&sig=vrmkslvd6ycysnhsnd9b8g--" Width="100" Height=...