The Wiang Kum Kam archaeological site, a super niche treasure destination in Chiang Mai

Where is Wiang Kum Kam? Wiang Kum Kam is the predecessor of the ancient city of Chiang Mai. It can be said that if it weren't for a sudden catastrophic flood, the ancient city of Chiang Mai as we know it would not exist in this world today. Today's Wiang Kum Kam site only sparsely preserves a small part of the ancient city of Wiang Kum Kam. The ancient city was built by King Mengrai as the first capital of the Lanna Kingdom and actually existed for less than ten years before it was submerged by floods. Even from today's perspective, the location of the ancient city of Wiang Kum Kam was not problematic at the time. Unfortunately, the 'Mother River' of Chiang Mai, the Ping River, suddenly changed its course, causing Wiang Kum Kam to be frequently troubled by floods, and ultimately it was completely buried by mud and sand during an inundation, disappearing from the surface of the earth. King Mengrai had no choice but to select a new site to build a city, and that's how the ancient city of Chiang Mai we know today came into being between the mountains and the river. The reason we can see the ruins of Wiang Kum Kam today is mainly thanks to the Thai people who accidentally discovered the remains of the city walls while building a temple nearby years ago. Since then, this ancient city, which had only appeared in documents, has been brought back to light. It is said that during the excavation, many stone steles and carvings were unearthed, and the valuable artifacts and fine pieces were placed in the museum of Chiang Mai. 🉑 Exploration Guide: 🏠 Address: Southeast of the ancient city of Chiang Mai, it is recommended to take a taxi or songthaew 💰 Admission: Free 🚙 Tour Transportation: Walking or horse-drawn carriage ⏰ Tour Duration: At least half a day ❗️ Tips: 1⃣ The ruins are scattered, pay attention to the directions on the roadside signs 2⃣ There are mostly residences within the ruins, with no places to eat, so it is recommended to bring your own food and water 🌈 If you, who are reading this note now, also have the chance to visit the Wiang Kum Kam site, remember, when you see this conical ancient pagoda (Picture 11), you have entered the first capital of the Lanna Kingdom. Although only sparse ruins remain, it has always been waiting for travelers like us to appear...