Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai is both a city and a province in Thailand. For the province, see Chiang Rai province.

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Chiang Rai (thai เชียงราย) is a city in northern Thailand. Geographical location 19° 56' North, 99° 51' East. Population 62,000. Chiang Rai is capital of the Chiang Rai province.

The city was founded by King Mengrai in 1262 and was the first capital of the Lannathai kingdom, however it lost this status soon thereafter to Chiang Mai. In 1432 the Emerald Buddha, the most important idol of Thailand, did show up first in Chiang Rai, when lightning struck the Wat Phra Kaew temple and it showed up under stucco cover.