I have written all the blogs about Northern Thailand History. I am specifically interested in the history of the teak industry in North Thailand. The site features blogs about the East Asiatic Company and the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation. There are a couple of blogs about heritage houses such as the Louis T.Leonowens House in Lampang and the Wongluekiat House in Chiang Mai.
I have written many Northern Thailand History blogs about Buddhist Temples in North Thailand. Over time I will add more blogs about this subject. Some blogs I had to change into a page because the subject is like a cornerstone of the website. There are quite a few blogs about temples in Lampang. Examples are the blogs about Wat Mon Puyak and Wat Mon Chamsin. As far as I know, they contain information you will not be able to find anywhere else. That is what I strive for.
The Hall of Opium at the Golden Triangle The Hall of Opium is one of the three flagship projects of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, alongside the Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park and the Doi Tung Development Project. The Foundation carries out its work according to the vision of Her Royal Highness Princess […]
Introduction The Biography of General Lee Wen Huan and the Third Army is a story that was given to us by Khun Phoranee Chaisiri, the eldest daughter of General Lee , when we visited Tham Ngob in December 2025. Her younger sister Chawiwan Chaisiri wrote this article in Thai. Frans Betgem and Khun Phoranee at […]
Table of Contents The Ban Ho Mosque The Wongluekiat House The Muslim community in Chiang Mai Introduction to the Muslim community in Chiang Mai This article is about the Muslim community in Chiang Mai. I have always enjoyed the diversity of religions in Chiang Mai. During our historical walk, you will pass a Christian church, […]
Table of Contents The Luang Yo House on the compound of the Diamond Hotel in 2020 Luang Yonakarn Phichit, a Burmese merchant in Chiang Mai Luang Yonakarn Phichit (1845-1927) was a Burmese merchant and nobleman from Moulmein. His original name was Mong Panyo or U Panyo. In the early 20th century he was one of […]
Players after a polo match at the BBTC compound in Phrae. Source: https://humazur.univ-cotedazur.fr Table of Contents Founding of the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation The founding story of the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Ltd or Company (BBTC abbreviated) is quite complicated. Involved were the six Wallace Brothers, who in different combinations traded in tea, cotton, coffee, […]
Young teak tree in front of the first office of the East Asiatic Company in Phrae Table of Contents Introduction to the Teak Tree This article about the teak tree is a short history of the teak industry in Thailand in which British, Danish, and French companies were involved. I am not a tree expert […]
The East Asiatic Company in Siam Table of Contents A young Danish entrepreneur in Siam Hans Niels Andersen, the founder of East Asiatic Company (EAC), was born in the village Nakskow, Denmark, in 1852. He was into shipping at a young age. Trained as a shipbuilder, they hired him as a carpenter on a ship. […]
Wiang Tha-Kan , the forgotten ancient city Table of Contents A forgotten ruined settlement Wiang Tha Kan (เวียงท่ากาน) is an ancient settlement and archaeological site, about 35 km south of Chiang Mai. In and around the current village there are 22 archaeological sites, mostly ruins of temples. The settlement was rectangular, 500 by 700 meters […]
The famous Khun Tan Tunnel Table of Contents Introduction The Khuntan Tunnel is with a length of 1,362 meters the longest railway tunnel in Thailand. You pass through this tunnel on the Northern Line of the State Railway of Thailand between Bangkok and Chiang Mai. It is 683 km from Bangkok and 68 km before […]
Kruba Srivichai, the Patron Saint of Lanna Table of Contents The Patron Saint of Lanna Kruba Srivichai (1878-1939) was a monk who became known as the Patron Saint of Lanna or the Engineer Monk. In this blog, we use the spelling Kruba Srivichai although you will often find his name spelt as Khruba Siwichai. Khruba […]