If you intend to go shopping in Chiang mai, Thailand and save your money to purchase the excellence craft items and handmade goods, Borsang and San kampang Otop village is the top answer.
San kampaeng handcraft otop village follows a road to the east of the city. all along both sides of the road are many small workshop producing all number of goods that you've the opportunity to observe the craftsmen and women at the job and purchase their top quality goods. The tour takes you to see the worlds biggest gem gallery, the eminent Thai silk company, the hand made sunshade factory, lacquerware, bronze product, leather product, Celadon pottery and much, a lot more.
Wood carving is considered one of Thailand’s finest traditional handicafts that have been passed down from the Sukhothai period (1238 – 1438 ). The evidence of the long existing sculpture art can be found on windows, door and other wooden parts of Buddhist temples, It’s easy to understand why ornamental wood carving in Thailand is such a highly specialized skill when you consider just how much intricate detail goes into every item created. Whetherit’s a tiny carved wooden bowl or an enormous engineered wooden structure, the sheer professionalism of the craft just cannot be faulted.
Silk is one of the most valued an sought-after fabrics in the world. Yet, the origins of the production of this most exquisite material remains veiled in mystery, throught we belive it comes from China.
At the Thai Silkk Village you will discover the production oof Thai Silk that begins with the bombyx mori, a small worm that comes from the eggs of silk moth and that eats leaves of mulberry trees before building a cocoon from its sprittle. The bombyx mori usually produces silk thread, ranging from light gold to very light green, with lengths from 500 to 1,500 yards per cocoon. A single thread filament is too thin to use on its own so Thai women combine many threads to produce a thicker, usable fiber. They do this by hand-reeling the threads onto a wooden spindle to produce a uniform strand of raw silk. The process is a tedious one as it take nearly 40 hours to produce a half kilogram of silk. The production will then be soaked in hot water and bleached before dyeing, then woven a using a traditional hand operated loom.
Although ceramics were produced in Thailand as far back as the 9th century, the expertise and techniques for producing to tradition, the special glaze was developed to simulatr the appearance of jade which, for thousands of years, has been reserve by the Chinese as the royal gemstone. Today’s celadon centres on Sankampaeng Road. Baan Celadon and Siam Celadon factories use the same process as previously.
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For more than 100 years, the village of Borsang that is lacates on Sankampaeng road, has been associated with the production of umbrellas made from Saa paper, derived from mulberry tree bark.
The local history has been told that there was a monk travelling to neighbouring Myanmar where he came cross Saa paper umbrellas that offered protection against both the sun and the rain. He returned with the protection technique and introduced the umbrella to the elders of Borsang village, who added their own first, making umbrellas was just a hobby to do after the annual rice crop, wich could supplement villager’s earnings. The time passed by and the production of Saa paper umbrellas gradually flourished, which prompted villages to establish a handicraft c0-operative in 1941. In time, the production grew up to be made out of saa paper and silk, and images of birds, elephants and flowers were intricately hand-painted on the umbrellas Today, the production of Umbrellas from Borsang village is exported through the world and it can been seen at trades in Europe, in a wide variation of sizes and colours.
Formerly introduced in Thailand by the Indian traders, the original techniques of silverware and jeweley making have slowly evolved through the influences of various periods of art. Particularly in Northern Thailand where silver work originated as a result of Buremese and Shan methods and styles, and developed rapidly afterwards to become a combination of techniques and designs,
The ethnic minority peoples (Tibeto-Buemese, Hmong and Yao, the Shan and Tai minorities of Vietnam and Laos) have had much influence on Thai silver works as well. Types of adornment and jewellery, crafted by one minority people have been adopted by other minorities; the present adornment and jewellery range of some minorities; the present adornment and jewellery range of some minorities also includes both ancient and more recent types.
The silver in Thailand is commonly used for jewellery, pictures made out of silver, picture frames, dishes,, silverware, purses and much more. The most common out of all of these uses are the jewellery and Chiang Mai is one of the places where the fitnest Thai silverware is produced, with skills passed down for centuries. Chiang Mai silversmiths like to make bracelets, rings and earrings. They have a very special chisels that they use to carve out designs in the bracelets and other jewelry. The silver pictures are also commonly made there. They get big sheets of silver paper and take the chisels to cave out the designs.
All factory specializes in single crafts and it is plausible to watch demonstration’s of artisan and craftsmen at the job. So don’t miss this chance of find the making of Thai Silk, celadon, wood carving, sterling silver, lacquer ware, jewelry, saa paper, verges and a lot more : jump in a car and discover these beautiful proficiency passed down for many years.
Before the springs it is worth taking the turning to the left to visit the Muang On caves. At the foot of the hill is an attractive Chinese Temple. The road then climbs much higher up the hill to the caves. A narrow scaled road leads up the side of a hill to a small car park. From there you have to climb up a steep naga stairway for about 100 meters before reaching the entrance to the caves. Make sure the lights have been switched on before descending into some big, deep caverns. A large seated Buddha image amidst stalactites creates an impressive effect. A 30 foot long “Reclining Buddha” named Pro Garoona Sai Yars. Built four years ago, this relaxed ‘fella’ looks strangely out of place in an environment that most people find “spooky” to say the least. The basement of the cave is littered with tiny images resting on small niches in the cave wall. These are dwarfed by a handsome meditative Buddha image that sits high up on a ledge just above a naturally formed basin of water. But the centerpiece of this spacious grotto is a gigantic stalagmite named “Jedee Mae Nomm Fah”. This awesome formation of nature is thirty feet high and ten feet in diameter. Wrapped around it are several brightly colored sashes in red, yellow and orange, resulting in projecting a surreal effect upon the entire scene, of the cave floor. It is an astounding sight.
A visit to the Muang On caves is only for the fit. Firstly there is a long climb up a Naga staircase from the car park, before reaching the entrance to the caves. The caves are well lit and there are young guides available to point out the major sites, which are also Buddhist shrines. However to reach the famous stalagmite it is necessary to climb down a long concrete staircase, which means it is along climb back up to exit the caves.
After visiting the factories on Sankampaeng road, and if you are in love with nature then head away from the tourist trail and visit the Sankampaeng Hot Spring. This Ideal destination is located 40 km. from Chiang Mai town and the journey is picturesque with scenic views of the mountains, through foot hills, paddy fields and plam nut oil tree plantations. The natural spring of Sankampaeng Hot Spring is emitting water with high sulphur content and said to cure ailments and rejuvenate the body. The water seems to be gushing out from a deep source someware beneath the ground and its temperature is at 100 degrees centigrade. The park covers an area of about 35 acres and has been developed into a series of natural hot springs, gardens, small canals, a water fall-swimming pool and private bungalows with bath to enjoy the natural benefits of the spring. At the entrance you can buy quail and hens eggs in nest woven bamboo baskets to boil in special tanks within the park. Many spa options such as foot massage, Thai massage and scrub are available ranging from 100-200 Baht.
Sankampaeng Hot Spring is an ideal destination for those interested in health and well-being. Although there is a sight swiff of sulphur, it does not affect this very quiet place, which is perfect to enjoy an afternoon with family and friends. If you wish you can also spend the night there; there are bungalows and camping tents available for rent.
How to go : Offering for a excellence and safety local tour for price. Voyager can be sure of exclusivity for your trip with private tour as first insurance and expert guide. If you want to book a tour, you can contact Chiang Mai travel agency in town or use a gtaxi or songtaew but tuk - tuk can't drive to Muang On Cave. At Otop Village, You may find yourself wanting to developed a flea market stall back home town or have an idea for establishing a small shop in your hometown to sell all these fantastic Thai products, which come so inexpensively. If so, San kampang is the perfect location to get samples and place orders.
