Thailand brings to mind busy streets, vibrant marketplaces, roadside eateries, plenty of nightlife and great deals thanks to Bangkok. Move some seven hundred odd kilometres to the north of the bustling Thai capital and things change dramatically. The air is cleaner, the airwaves are less crowded, the climes are cooler and the buildings are replaced by paddy fields, trees, gardens, and temples. The area known as Chiang Rai where the Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort is located boasts these polar opposite attributes and quite understandably attracts those who seek refuge from the chaos of everyday life.
Pick up any Chiang Rai travel guide and there will many paragraphs written of a pagoda that supposedly lies at the summit of Doi Tung Mountain where the collarbone of the Buddha is enshrined. As per Buddhist customs, a part of a holy leader’s body is sanctified and placed within temple premises as it is supposed to be a powerful force. Soaring up to 2,000 feet from sea level the Doi Tung hillside is an impeccable location for such relics to be placed.
The rest of the environment lives up to the superior holiness of the region with beautiful green gardens brimming with fragrant and colourful flowers, magnificent trees and charming bodies of water. The Meh Fah Luang Garden is one of the most commonly spoken of Thai botanical gardens as it had been designed as per the instructions of Queen Mother. The drive up to the Doi Tung Mountain from the city is almost as delightful as the peak itself. The change is so welcoming and obvious as you move away from the city towards the gracious hilly terrain that one cannot help but notice it. The entire tour uphill and back would take from half a day to a full day from the city and should be a part of any itinerary that is drawn up.
Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.