Historical Ecological Discussion Activity in the Heart of the Ancient City

"Wiang Chet Lin" traces of the ancient city.

The ancient city is round in shape at the foot of Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai.

Discover the important historical stories of Wiang Chet Lin and listen to a talk by experts who will help you to understand a new dimension of the ancient city of Chiang Mai.

• Wiang Chet Lin trip: take the EV Tram to see important places in the round ancient city.

• Ceremony to pay respects to the guardian spirit of Wiang Chet Lin.

• Progress on the Wiang Chet Lin master plan.

Circle telling the story of “Wiang Chet Lin” Topics:

• The sacredness and value of Wiang Chet Lin.

• Wiang Chet Lin: Status of the ancient city with a round shape from the past to the present.

• Recreation area, learning source, and connecting tourism at Doi Suthep - Pui

Speakers:

• Phrakhru Thirasutphon (Song-nga Thirasamvaro), abbot of Wat Phalat

• Mr. Pallop Sae-Jiu, Tourism Industry Council of Chiang Mai Province

• Mr. Saknarin Chaw-Ngiu, Cultural Studies Center, Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna

• Mr. Phudet Saensa, Special Lecturer, Faculty of Fine Arts, Chiang Mai University.

Enjoy Workshop activities

• Making Khanom Wong, Ta Laew, and Nam Pimsen

• ECO Brick to manage household waste without leftovers

• Drawing trees and nature.

🟢 Watch the Wiang Chet Lin dance performance,

listen to music under the big rain tree,

and enjoy a variety of local foods.

📌 Saturday, March 29, 2025, 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

at the Wiang Chet Lin water source in the area of ​​the District 5 Livestock Office.

(Doi Suthep foothills) https://maps.app.goo.gl/HZNAoVCZYhM5g5326....

Participants dress in local costumes and join in opening new perspectives

and experiencing the charm of Wiang Chet Lin together.

Wiang Chet Lin currently has Huay Kaew Road cutting through it and is home to many government agencies, such as the Doi Suthep Nature Center, Chiang Mai University, Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna - Chiang Mai Northern Region, Chiang Mai Zoo, the Northern Dairy Farming Promotion Organization (DPO), the Thai-Danish Dairy Farming Project's milk production plant, Phu Ping Royal Palace Police Station, Huay Kaew Arboretum, Chiang Mai Provincial Livestock Development Office, and the Arts and Crafts Product Distribution Center.

The physical characteristics are a plain at the foot of the mountain, with a high area on the west and sloping to the east. The western area is much higher than the other areas, so this side does not need an embankment. The other sides are two-tiered embankments with a moat in between, but some of them have been destroyed. The complete embankment is in the Huay Kaew Arboretum. The outer embankment has been destroyed a lot, but it can still be seen in some parts. Wiang Chet Lin is a circle with a diameter of about 900 meters. Wiang Chet Lin has always been important because the “water” in Wiang Chet Lin is considered sacred water. Moreover, it receives water from Doi Suthep, and the center of the city is also a source of spring water with a delicious taste. In the time of Phraya Yot Chiang Rai, water from Wiang Chet Lin was brought to make perfumed water to be sent as water for bathing the Phra That Doi Tung. In the time of Phra Mahadevi Jiraprapa, King Chairacha of Ayutthaya, he raised an army to invade Chiang Mai. But because of the political policy of Phra Mahadevi, she made an alliance with Phra Chairacha and brought him to Wiang Chet Lin as well. Wiang Chet Lin was still important until the time of Chao Chet Ton. During the time of King Phutthawong (1826 - 1846), he came to reside at Wiang Chet Lin during the time of misfortune...

(Source: wikipedia)

Archaeological operations in Wiang Chet Lin area
The Office of Fine Arts 7, Chiang Mai, has conducted archaeological excavations in Wiang Chet Lin area 3 times in 1998, 2009 and 2019. In 1998, archaeological excavations were conducted in the area south of Wiang or Huay Kaew Arboretum area, where evidence of land use was found in the Lanna period, around the 20th-22nd Buddhist century.

The three archaeological studies show that the land use of Wiang Chet Lin area was in the Lanna period, but there was no evidence of land use in the Hariphunchai period or pre-Lanna period. There are only pieces of Hariphunchai pottery, but the exact kiln used has not been found at present, so the age of this product cannot be determined. Ancient sites related to Wiang Chet Lin From the archaeological survey, there were 2 ancient sites within a radius of 1 kilometer of Wiang Chet Lin: Wat Mu Bun, located to the northwest of Wiang Chet Lin, and Wat Ku Din Khao, located approximately 700 meters southwest of the Wiang Chet Lin wall/earth embankment, which is currently within the area of ​​Chiang Mai Zoo.

From the archaeological operations in the Wiang Chet Lin area in all 3 times, no archaeological evidence was found before the 19th Buddhist century. The results of the analysis of archaeological evidence, together with historical documents, can divide the period of Wiang Chet Lin into 3 periods:

The first period: pre-Lanna or legendary period, with only information mentioned in the legend of Chiang Mai Pang Oen and the legend of Suwanna Kham Daeng, which tells the story of Rishi Vasuthep and Thao Suwanna Kham Daeng. However, no evidence was found from the archaeological excavation that could be linked or consistent with the said period. Udomluck Huntrakul and Piwat Krachajan, the archaeologists who conducted the excavation, proposed that it reflects the struggle and interaction between the Lawa and Thai people based on stories. Considering the establishment of the name Wiang Chet Lin as Wiang Chet Buri, which means the elder brother, the Lawa people, who were the original group of people before the migration of the Thai descendants, namely Thao Suwanna Kham Daeng, the

Second period: the reign of Phraya Sam Fang Kaen, which is the period when the Wiang Chet Lin area was built, is a period when historical and archaeological evidence is consistent.

The third period: It should be during the 20th-21st  when there should be activities in Wiang Chet Lin related to the reign of Phra Mahadevi Chiraprapa. However, archaeological evidence is still unable to clearly analyze the characteristics of the use of the Wiang Chet Lin area. It can only be assumed that the construction of Wiang Chet Lin was necessary to build a moat and earthen embankment to control water flowing from the high mountain to the lower area at the foot of the mountain for agricultural use and consumption within Wiang Chet Lin.

(Source: https://www.finearts.go.th/fad7/view/44306-)