Tha Pae Gate, Chiang Mai

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Tha Pae Gate, Chiang Mai

Tha Pae Gate, Chiang Mai

Tha Pae Gate is marking the eastern entry into the historic walled center. The gate is part of the remaining fortifications built during the Lanna Kingdom to protect the city from invasions. Although much of the original wall has disappeared over time, this reconstructed section offers a glimpse into Chiang Mai’s medieval past and the defensive system that once surrounded the capital.

The gate stands at the eastern end of Tha Pae Road, a route that historically connected the city to the Ping River and its important trade routes. Merchants, monks, and foreign visitors would have passed through this entrance on their way to the royal palace and central temples. Today, the brick walls and open plaza create a popular meeting point and a convenient orientation spot for exploring the Old City.

Tha Pae Gate is also a lively backdrop to daily life in Chiang Mai. Pigeons gather on the square, and tourists often stop to take photos or join in casual cultural events. On weekends and during major festivals—especially Loi Krathong and Songkran—the area transforms into a vibrant stage with food stalls, performances, and parades filling the streets.

Surrounding the gate, visitors will find a mix of cafés, shops, markets, and guesthouses that make it a comfortable base for sightseeing.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Chiang Mai. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Tha Pae Gate on Map

Sight Name: Tha Pae Gate
Sight Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand (See walking tours in Chiang Mai)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Create Your Own Walk in Chiang Mai

Create Your Own Walk in Chiang Mai

Creating your own self-guided walk in Chiang Mai is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Chiang Mai Temples Walking Tour

Chiang Mai Temples Walking Tour

Amid the multitude of impressive sights in Chiang Mai, religious temples really stand out. The city isn't just about one or two of them but has over 300 ‘wats’, which is more than elsewhere in Thailand. Some of these temples are as old as the city itself and were built by the kings not only to demonstrate their faith, but also to show off their wealth and power.

In the past, apart from...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Chiang Mai Introduction Walking Tour

Chiang Mai Introduction Walking Tour

Legend holds that in 1296, King Mangrai sought a sacred site for his new city by releasing a white elephant into the forest. The creature climbed a mountain, trumpeted three times, knelt to rest, and then died. Taking this as a divine sign, the king erected a temple at that spot—today’s sacred Wat Doi Suthep.

Chiang Mai’s name literally means “new city” in Thai, reflecting its role...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Shopping and Food Walking Tour

Shopping and Food Walking Tour

One of the reasons tourists visit Chiang Mai is shopping. Indeed, this city is fit to captivate anyone with its shopping opportunities, especially when it comes to diverse and unique goods such as silk, silver, clothing, ceramics, antiques, Buddhist art, lacquer and neilloware, of consistently good value and quality and at affordable prices. Chiang Mai is one of the cheapest places to shop in...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles