Highway 21 north from Bangkok, takes us through Sing Buri to Phetchabun, across the eastern edge of the Central Plain along the highway of history. At Lom Sak we head west, across the Nam Nao hills on Highway 12 to Phitsanulok, then north on Highway 11 to Uttaradit. From Uttaradit the winding hill road of Highway 101 leads us to Nan, the site of a remote ancient kingdom; and on to Phrae, another ancient kingdom made wealthy from the surrounding teak forests. Highway 11 leads us through Lampang to Chiang Mai, the ancient capital of the Lanna Kingdom. Nearby Lamphun is an ancient 7th century capital, of the Mon kingdom of Haripunchai.
These highways through history take us to stunning temples across verdant hills. Northern Thailand, through most of its history has been a land of independent kingdoms and principalities. It has seen the Khmer builders come and go. It has been terrorized by Burmese invaders and now it has succumbed to Siamese rule.