Chiang Mai is a city in the mountainous north of Thailand. It was founded in 1296 and was the capital of the Independent Kingdom of Lanna until 1558. The ancient city area retains traces of walls and moats from the period when it was a cultural and religious center. It is also home to hundreds of elaborate Buddhist temples, including the 14th-century Wat Phra Singh and the 15th-century Wat Chedi Luang, adorned with carved snakes.
