Chiang Mai (, from , ) sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant
city in
Northern Thailand. It is the capital of
Chiang Mai Province and was a former capital of the Kingdom of
Lan Na (1296–1768), which became a
tributary state of the Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 to 1939. It is north of
Bangkok and is situated amongst the highest mountains in the country. The city sits astride the
Ping River, a major tributary of the
Chao Phraya River.