Doi Pui village is a hill tribes museum village. Originally the tribe came from China and located themselves on this remote 1676m high Suthep mountain top many years ago, growing poppy's for the opium trade. This has of course now stopped, I am sure the poppy’s I saw were for decoration only.
I found the altitude very difficult, particularly walking up through the village the very steep steps can be seen in the photo below but it was well worth it.
The village people can be seen in the next two pictures dressed in their traditional costume, sat outside of their stalls manufacturing very high quality good for sale. These stalls continued all the way up the steps to the top of the village.
A little girl in costume, watching her mother work.
At the top of the village there were gardens. The next two pictures show the roofs of the village and the beautiful location.
The gardens with a natural stream diverted into a water feature.
Higher up the garden goes into the forest, May our excellent guide can be seen walking up the steps.
Tatty Bear had to get in on the act.
Even though I found it very exhausting it was well worth the effort.
Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep Rajaworawiharn is also located on Suthep mountain at a lower altitude than the Doi Pui village at 1,1053m. It is one of the five royal temples in Chiangmai and is one of the most important. It contains the holy relic of Buddha brought from Pang Cha an ancient town of Sukhothai by Ven. Phra Mahasawami.
In 1371 AD the relic was transported on the back of a white elephant and a prayer was said that the Elephant would not stop until a suitable place had been found for the relic. Eventually the elephant stopped at the bottom of a mountain and gave three trumpets, then started to climb, when it reached a suitable spot it gave three more trumpets, made three counter clockwise circles then knelt down.
That is how the Buddha relics reached Doi Suthep.
They are very fond of bells in these temples.
A garden at the temple entrance.
The inside of the temple, the black jade Buddha can be seen in the centre.
There is no black jade found in Thailand it is imported from Burma.
Some children performing in the courtyard.
I thought that I would not miss the opportunity of a bit of bell ringing.
From the car park we went up to the temple on a vernacular railway as it was some distance to climb.
We came down the steps on our return.
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