CHAING MAI, Thailand – Culture Minister Sabida Thaiseth visited Chiang Mai to inspect the province’s readiness ahead of a technical evaluation by UNESCO advisors for its World Heritage Site nomination, officials said. The site, nominated under the title “Monuments, Sites and Cultural Landscape of Chiang Mai, Capital of Lanna,” will undergo a field assessment by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) from August 3 to 8. During her visit, Sabida inspected key historic locations, including the city’s ancient gates and major temples such as Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Chiang Man. The inspection focused on conservation, site management, and data preparation.
The nomination dossier was approved by the Thai Cabinet in January before being officially submitted to the World Heritage Centre in Paris in February. The site has been on UNESCO’s Tentative List since 2015. According to the Ministry of Culture, the nomination highlights the universal value of Chiang Mai as a representation of the Lanna civilization from the 14th and 15th centuries. The proposed property consists of three main groups: the old city walls and gates, historic temples including Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, and Wat Chet Yot. Following the field evaluation, Thailand will coordinate with ICOMOS to provide additional details ahead of the final review by the World Heritage Committee, which is expected during its annual session in mid-2027. (TNA)
