History of the Three Kings Monument
The Three Kings Monument honours three rulers who shaped northern Thailand. Their 13th-century alliance led to the founding of Chiang Mai in 1296 — and nearly 700 years later, a bronze sculpture was raised on the very spot where they are said to have planned the city.
Who were the three kings?
King Mengrai (Phaya Mangrai) founded Chiang Mai and the Lanna kingdom. King Ramkhamhaeng of Sukhothai is credited with spreading the Thai script and early Siamese statecraft. King Ngam Muang ruled Phayao. According to Lanna chronicles the three were allies and friends, and together they chose the site for the new city.
The founding of Chiang Mai in 1296
In 1296 King Mengrai established Chiang Mai ('New City') as the capital of Lanna, on a site selected with the advice of Ramkhamhaeng and Ngam Muang. Beside the Ping River within the old city walls, it remained the political and religious heart of Lanna for centuries.
The monument itself (completed 1983, opened 1984)
The bronze statues you see today are modern. They were completed in 1983 and unveiled to the public in 1984, replacing concrete statues that had stood here since 1973–74. A national fine-arts team from Silpakorn University modelled the kings on elephant-back, the pose in which they are said to have surveyed the new city.
Frequently asked questions
Why are there three kings on one monument?
Because the monument commemorates an alliance: Mengrai of Lanna, Ramkhamhaeng of Sukhothai and Ngam Muang of Phayao, who together founded Chiang Mai in 1296.
Is the monument from the 13th century?
No. The bronze sculpture is modern — completed in 1983 and opened to the public in 1984. It marks a 13th-century event but is not a 13th-century object.
Who made the statues?
They were created by a national fine-arts team from Silpakorn University, replacing earlier concrete statues from 1973–74.