Hi, Dear Steemians Friends
Today I would like to continue with the project #myplace and show you a little more about the town of Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. Today I want to bring you to Taphae Gate on the eastern side of the Old City is one of the most famous landmarks of Chiang Mai. Back in the ancient times, long before the Kingdom of Siam was the Kingdom of Lanna, from the 13th to the end of the 18th century, it occupied all of the today's northern Thailand and a very big part of Laos. At that time Thailand was divided by many kingdom and wars were taking place between them. The first era of the Lanna Kingdom has started up north and establish it's first capital in Chiang Saen (200 Km north of Chiang Mai) King Mangrai moves his capital from Chiang Saen to Chiang Rai to Lamphun than to Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai capital has started in Wiang Kum Kam just outside of today's Chiang Mai. At that time wars were happening at a fast pace and to protect his Kingdom the King Mangrai build a big wall around the old city of Chiang Mai and a moat around it. The shape of the old city is a perfect square of 2.5 Km sides. He also build in the center of each side big massive gates to enter the city. The whole design of the city acted as a fortress. Today only the 4 gates and the corners of the fortress can be seen as other parts have been destroyed by earthquake and peoples during the last 2 century. Taphae Gate is the East gate and it is well known from the tourist as it is in the center of the tourist district and it is a place where tourists like to hang around.
Taphae Gate
Gate doors mechanism made of wood
Tourist having fun with pigeons
Love and Happiness
