Historically, Chiang Saen is an important town nestled on the banks of the Mekhong River. Believed to date from the 7th century (and reputedly Thailand's oldest city), it was once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom before it was moved to Chiang Rai. The town was captured by the Burmese in the 16th century until it was retaken and sacked in 1803 and remained a ghost town until repopulation took place in the early 1900s. Around the town, there are many remains of the Lanna period some of which are relatively intact while others are little more than mounds of rubble. The ancient city wall and moat are, however, in surprisingly good shape.
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| Temple ruins, Chiang Saen |
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| Wat Chedi Luang, Chiang Saen |
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| Wat Pa Sak, Chiang Saen |
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| Ancient city walls, Chiang Saen |
A drive along the Mekhong River to Chiang Kong gave us some spectacular views of the river. Chiang Kong is/was the gateway to Luang Prabang in Laos for the many backpackers that used to traverse this route and catch the ferry before Covid. There is currently no evidence of any backpackers or any other tourists for that matter.
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| View of the Mekhong River |
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| View of the Mekhong River |
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| Looking across the Mekhong River to Huay Xai, Laos |
1 comment:
Love all your Pictures <3 XO XO
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