Thailand’s cabinet has approved the submission of Chiang Mai’s cultural landscape, known as “Chiang Mai, the Capital of Lanna,” for nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The decision was made on 13 January, with the cabinet endorsing the official documents proposing Chiang Mai’s cultural monuments, heritage sites and cultural landscape for listing under the category of cultural landscape.
The cabinet also assigned the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, through the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, to submit the nomination documents to the World Heritage Centre in Paris by 30 January.
The proposed heritage site covers eight major locations grouped into three main components.
The first includes Chiang Mai city and its key historical sites, including Wat Chiang Man, Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh, as well as heritage sites outside the old city such as Wat Suan Dok.
The second component consists of Wat Umong, Suan Phutthatham Park and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
The third is Wat Mahabodharam, also known as Wat Chet Yot.
Officials said the sites have outstanding universal value for their representation of Lanna culture, the blending of artistic traditions and Theravada Buddhist beliefs, and their historical development, which reflects the long-standing relationship between people and nature in shaping cultural landscapes for religious practices.