Chiang Saen National Museum

The mists of time have not been kind to Thailand’s early Kingdoms. Outside of Asia, stories of Genghis Khan or Alexander the Great are well known, but hardly anyone hears about some of the other great empires. For instance, the area that is now northern Thailand has played a pivotal role in the history of Southeast Asia, from Stone Age migratory routes to mighty battles that decided the boundaries of empires. Thankfully, Chiang Saen National Museum has documented all of this with great care.

One of these magnificent but oft-overlooked kingdoms was the Lanna Empire, founded by King Mengrai in the mid-13th century. Originally located in Chiang Saen, the seat of power was ultimately moved to Chiang Rai, but Chiang Saen continued to play a vital role in the development of the region. The city fell and rose several times in various epic battles with the Burmese, but was eventually abandoned after being burned to the ground. After decades of abandonment, it was resettled, slowly growing into the town you see today. It remains an important historical, cultural, and archaeological site.

The Chiang Saen museum, a branch of Thailand’s well regarded National Museum, has a collection of rare and gorgeous artifacts from this area that show the skill and diversity of the local people throughout their long history. The collection includes stone inscriptions and carvings, religious objects, and tools going back to early humans. Most notable are the world-renowned sculpture of the Kirtimuka, used to ward off evil spirits, the flaming halo of the Heavenly Golden Buddha, and Lanna Buddha images in Chiang Saen style.