DirectRooms.com – See a special display of the famous Bor Sang umbrellas in Chiang Mai

The Bor Sang Umbrella Festival will be presenting the very best of the world famous umbrellas with new designs and decorations. Visitors using Chiang Mai hotels can see the umbrellas being made during the festival and also purchase some of the finished creations which will be on display in many of the shops that line the streets of the village.

How the actual umbrellas are made has changed very little over the 100 years of production. Each umbrella is still made out of saa paper which comes from mulberry tree bark. This paper canopy is then placed over a frame made from bamboo and the umbrellas are then hand painted by native artists.

The origins of the umbrellas are believed to have been introduced to Bor Sang by a travelling monk who visited Burma. On his journey he discovered the umbrella which helped to protect against the rain and sun. Returning to Bor Sang he introduced the umbrellas to the people who quickly added new alternations with intricate floral patterns and bright colours.

The village has been famous for the umbrellas ever since and visitors can also see traditional cultural shows and dances using the umbrellas when the festival takes place in the third week of January 2011.

Lek Boonlert, marketing head at DirectRooms.com commented: "The umbrellas festival is famous in Thailand, the festival should attracts many new visitors. Hotel rooms near the village may in a higher demand, so people should book online to ensure availability."

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