“Nop Buri Sri Nakornping Chiangmai” was the name given to Chiang Mai by King Mengrai (the king who built Chiangmai) and his friends, King Ramkhamhaeng the Great (the king of Sukhothai City) and King Ngam Meuang (the king of Phayao City). All of them had the same vision that this place could be an ideal place for a town because, it’s so rich in natural resources. Eventually Chiangmai City was founded in the year 1296, by King Mengrai, the first king of the Mengrai dynasty. He built the moat and the city wall in a rectangular shape and at the same time built the Rajamontian Palace and houses for the people. Then the King Mengrai organized the Prab Da Pisek ceremony, as a symbol of his kinghood over the Lanna kingdom, the capital of which was the city of Chiangmai.

          The Mengrai dynasty governed Chiangmai for over 200 years until the year 1558 when Chiangmai lost its independence to King Bayinnaung, the king of Burma. Chiangmai then became a Burmese colony for more than 200 years. In year 1774, during the Krung Thonburi era, King Taksin the Great took back Chiangmai from Burma and was able to eliminate any Burmese authority from Lanna successfully. Chiangmai was revived and under the dominion of Krung Thonburi and Krung Rattanakosin.

          Furthermore, during the era of King Phra Buddha Yodfa Chuloke Maha Raj, Phraya Kawila became the governor of Chiangmai until the reign of King Chulalongkorn the Great (King Rama V) year 1897. He then united the city, and all cities, under the dominion of the Thai kingdom and put them under it’s administration. He had divided the kingdom into precincts (Monton) and made Chiangmai a precinct called Payup. In the year 1993, King Rama VII had reformed the administration to be provinces (Jungwhat) so, Chiangmai changed its status to a province which remains to this day.

           After 700 years or more, Lanna Culture had established good values, culture, and traditions that provided a promising future for Chiangmai and its people, born into the richness of the natural resources in this area. People here are kindhearted, and mutually care for one another. That’s the way Chiangmai people are, and this makes an area that encompasses more than 12,566,910 rai appear to be smaller.

          Aside from the above mentioned, the people of Chiangmai also believe and worship such traditions as the Intakin in May – June; they come together for the Intakin ceremony (Intakin is the city pillar) which involves putting flowers, incenses, and candles in the bowl prepared by the monks or bringing flowers, burning incenses, and candles around the Intakin pillar.