Chiang Mai in Bloom

Chiang Mai in Bloom



During its early years, Chiang Mai University was famed for its splendid scenery due to its location at the foothills of Doi Suthep surrounded by a fertile natural environment.


Such colorful environment not only existed on campus, but also in the nearby areas such as Suthep Road. Here, the most outstanding tree was the Phayom tree (Shorea Roxburghii), which at one time flourished with a great number growing along the length of Suthep Road, from Suandok Hospital to the foothills of the mountain.










As the Suthep Road was affected by city development, by 1994 there were only six Phayom trees on Suthep Road. Three were in front of the market and three were located at the intersection to Nimmanhaeminda Road, but not long after, all six had been sacrificed.


Regretful or nostalgic feelings alone will not help to bring back the Phayom trees on Suthep Road. However, we are grateful that HRH Princess Sirindhorn took a serious interest into the plight of Suthep Road's Phayom trees and initiated a project on 22 February 1994 to return these trees to the area.


Even though there is no longer a shady row of Phayom trees along both sides of Suthep Road, the pathway to Doi Suthep, an attempt to revive such local heritage is ongoing. It may take more than a lifetime for an effective result, but it is certainly something worth waiting for.