Bo Sang Umbrella Village, Chiang Mai Overview

Bo Sang Umbrella Village is a handicrafts village on the outskirts of Chiang Mai. Beautiful little paper umbrellas of different vibrant colors are made and sold here. These pretty canopies are a part of their heritage handicraft and are known for their quality locally and internationally. The uniquely interesting village is picturesque, unlike any traditional market.

Tourists can engage in an interaction with the villagers here to understand their lifestyles and their work. There are also workshops to learn the art of making these colorful little canopies. Through the years, the designs of these parasols have evolved with time. The floral patterns are often now replaced with scenes from the rural and local lives of the people. The other products sold at the Bo Sang Umbrella Village include handmade products made with sa paper (produced from the barks of mulberry trees) and cotton. In fact, the Bo Sang Umbrella Village is now seen as a cultural symbol of Chiang Mai because of this craft. Be it hand-painted umbrellas, florally designed ones, or tiny cocktail parasols, they are all available here.

Things to Do at Bo Sang

1. Buy Beautiful Umbrellas: The umbrellas made and sold at Bo Sang Umbrella Village are indeed considered unique throughout the world as it is made with bamboos and handmade paper which were initially painted with natural colours but now have been replaced by the synthetic ones. When one takes a tour of the village they get to know the entire process of making these umbrellas from scratch. The Sa paper that is used for making these umbrellas are also used for making other handmade products like lamps and handheld fans.

2. Make Your Own Umbrellas: The process involved in making this entire umbrella is a lengthy one. From arranging the bamboo and giving it shape to making the paper, dying it and then assembling all the other parts required to painting these beautiful canopies, one can engage themselves in any activity of their choice in order to learn and make some umbrellas. It indeed is an amusing process to watch and even more amazing to take part in.

Bo Sang Umbrella Festival

Every year the Bo Sang Umbrella festival is celebrated on the third Friday of the month of January, in collaboration with other surrounding villages. During this festival, there are a number of activities that take place including the parades, exhibitions and the most awaited Bo Sang Pageant Contest. One can easily spend a good two – three hours in exploring the place. The Bo Sang Handicrafts Centre is the market where all their produces are on display for sale.

Tips

1. The place is filled with workers busy in their craft making, so one should not be interfering or disturbing them in the process. In fact, most of them do not know English, and thus, it is best to talk to them or the shopkeepers through a guide.
2. The price of articles is fixed here, so no bargaining is allowed.

How To Reach Bo Sang Umbrella Village

Bo Sang is a village on the out skirts of Chiang Mai in the Old city area. From the city centre, it takes around thirty minutes to reach the place. You can either take a taxi or take a Songthaew for THB 30 to THB 50 per person. The white ones depart at a definite time following a schedule, from the Ping River which is opposite to the flower market. You can also opt for Red Songthaew.