Phaya Mengrai the Great Monument

A three-metre bronze statue of King Mengrai stands at the Pho Khun Intersection in Mueang Chiang Rai, marking the site associated with the city he founded in 1262. The monument is free to visit, open around the clock, and doubles as a well-known landmark for giving directions around town.

Who the Monument Honours

Mengrai — born around 1238/39, the 25th ruler of the Lua Chakkaraat dynasty — founded Chiang Rai on Doi Thong as his first capital, then went on to found Chiang Mai in 1296 after a brief stop at Wiang Kum Kam. His unification of the northern Thai principalities into the Lanna kingdom makes him one of the most consequential figures in Thai history, on par with the founders of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya further south. He ruled Lanna until his death in Chiang Mai in 1311.

The bronze figure shows Mengrai in Lanna royal dress, sword in hand, atop a pedestal carrying an inscription identifying him by his 1238-1311 dates and his role founding both Chiang Rai and the Lanna kingdom. Locals frequently stop at the base to pay respects — small offerings of flowers, incense, or garlands are common, particularly around Chiang Rai’s founding-anniversary observances.

Chiang Rai marks that founding each year with the Wai Sa Phaya Mengrai festival, held between late January and early February with parades and cultural performances centred on the king’s legacy. The monument itself sees the heaviest footfall during that window, though it’s a quiet roadside landmark the rest of the year.

Insider Tip: The intersection sits close to Chiang Rai’s old city core, so it’s easy to combine with a stop at Chalermphrakiat Clock Tower or Ku Phra Chao Meng Rai, the reliquary shrine also linked to the king, both a short drive away.

Practical Information

Because the monument sits in the middle of a road junction, take care crossing — this isn’t a pedestrianised plaza, and Chiang Rai traffic doesn’t always slow for photo-taking tourists. There’s no ticket booth, gift shop, or facilities on site; it’s an open-air landmark rather than a managed attraction, so a visit is quick and unstructured.

Getting There

Phaya Mengrai the Great Monument is at the Pho Khun Intersection, Mueang Chiang Rai, Chiang Rai. View on Google Maps.