Travel Pro Places of Interest #258: National Museum, Chiang Mai Tha...

Buddha Buddha Everywhere! Is that the theme of this place or is that just the history and culture of Chiang Mai. Well, maybe a little of both. Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand, and this part of Asia in general is steeped in a rich history of Buddhism. That was my primary take away from my visit to the National Museum of history in Chiang Mai Thailand.

Besides Buddhist paintings, relics, sculptures, and artifacts which I did find very beautiful and interesting; there was a section of the museum devoted to the history before Buddha. The Pre-Historic man area had human fossils, stone tools, and some pretty cool wax figures of some Thai cave men, before they knew they were Thai!

Another part of the museum I found interesting was of the royalty, their dress, and lives back in the 1800s. There was also a very cool 3-D holographic exhibit explaining the history of Chiang Mai's struggle for independence from the Burmese Empire! I had no idea the Burmese were running the show back in those days, and that the "Lanna" people (or Thai's at that time) had to fight for their independence.

I would say the overall take-a-away from my visit to this museum is that the history of Chiang Mai is centered around Buddhism. After spending several months in Chiang Mai, I would also say Buddhism is their present and their future as well! Now come along and lets have a closer look at the National Museum of History in Chiang Mai Thailand!