The gem of the Northbears fruits, orchards and hidden treasures dating back to the 13th century

Pha Chor is a natural earth cliff with pillars created by soil erosion. Rocks and sand sediment in the cliff wall show how its surrounding area was once a river.

In the bustling heart of Chiang Mai, there are some peaceful and scenic places you may overlook.

Late one afternoon, a number of tourists scoot through villages and fruit orchards. They are not here for fruits, a homestay experience, nor a hidden boutique resort. They are more keen to reach a less than ordinary location.

When reaching their destination, tourists put on their sunglasses, apply their sun tan lotion and leisurely walk down the ramp into a reservoir nestled in orchards. It is not a usual place to swim and enjoy oneself, especially considering the reservoir is framed by a 25m-high earthen wall.

Actually, the reservoir was created unintentionally. It is a soil excavation site. For 10 years, soil from this land was dug up to serve real estate development projects in downtown Chiang Mai, just some 10km away, and this turned it into a man-made valley with a total area of 48,000m² and eventually, into a reservoir. Erosion slowly carved away at the rugged walls and people in search of stunning places with scenery began calling it the "Grand Canyon of Chiang Mai".

"I don't know how they know this place. As the water is very deep, we keep it closed for safety reasons. Farang come by themselves and just enjoy the water and do not make any trouble," Naphatsuth Jutha-thararak, owner of Grand Canyon Chiang Mai, says. "But Thai and Asian tourists cause trouble. They come here but fail to take care of themselves."

After failing to stop people from visiting the place, she decided to establish a coffee house and now provides facilities such as life vests and kayaks for rent.

Since then, tourists keep coming to enjoy the water and scenery. At least it has not become too famous and has remained peaceful.

Although Chiang Mai has now turned into a place of hustle and bustle, with many hotels, businesses and attractions, there are still places where you can enjoy a leisurely moment. While many tourists prefer the northern area of Chiang Mai, which is packed with adventurous attractions and chic places, I find the southern corner of the province packed with quieter places worthy of exploration.

There is another stunning place hidden well in Doi Lo district, southwest of the city.

In a forest, I walk on a dry winding waterway by myself towards a towering cliff with deep marks reflecting centuries of erosion. Even though visitors must take the time to trek through a winding water channel to access this stunning cliff, their efforts are worthwhile.

Pha Chor is a cliff roughly 15-20m high. It is believed that the area once was a watercourse of the River Ping. Later the river changed its route and sediment piled up. Rainfall and gully erosion slowly carved out the cliffs and pillars.

A short drive from downtown Wiang Kum Kam lies another place which is surprisingly peaceful. Hidden in southern part of Chiang Mai, adjacent to Saraphi district, lies a nice place for cyclists eager to spend an easy day exploring an ancient lost city. With over 30 archaeological sites found in the area, Wiang Kum Kam is an ancient and rectangular shaped city, with history dating back to the 13th century.

From Wiang Kum Kam, if you follow the shady Highway 106, lined with big trees, for a mere 20km, you will arrive at the smallest province of northern Thailand, Lamphun. Do not expect stylish coffee houses or chic resorts here. The sleepy town, which can be dated back to more than 1,200 years, is dotted with beautiful temples and longan orchards.

On a bike, I slowly roam the town to find that the longan fruit is an integral part of life here as you can find it in juices, cakes, coffee, and even in the their noodle soups.

"Lamphun is lamyai [longan]," my guide Amphai Chai-pichit says while leading me to see her hometown. "It is part of our life."

It may not be stylish, but this unique and peaceful trip will show you another side of Chiang Mai and the peaceful neighbourhood of Lamphun you could easily overlook.

The unique square pagoda of Lamphun’s Wat Chama Dhevi was built around 1218. Each tier of the pagoda is lined with standing Buddha images in different poses. The pagoda contains the ashes of Queen Chama Dhevi.

Built around 800 years ago, Wat Phra That Haripunchai in Lamphun houses a 46m-tall golden pagoda which houses a hair of the Lord Buddha. Its top is decorated with gold weighing close to 6.5kg.

If you are fond of Buddha amulets, Wat Mahawan in Lamphun is the temple you must visit. It is the origin of the Buddha amulet Phra Rod. The temple's principal Buddha image, Phra Sila Dam, is the model for all Phra Rod amulets.

Tourist cyclists make a stop in front of an ancient pagoda in Wiang Kum Kam. The lost town was once a settlement in the days when King Mengrai set it up as the capital during 1287-1290. However, frequent floods drove the king to move the capital to what is now Chiang Mai.

The Wiang Kum Kam archaeological site is too large to cover on foot as it is spread out across suburban neighbourhoods. It is a nice place to either ride a bicycle or even take a ride on a pony carriage.

Tourists walk along a very steep bank of the 'Grand Canyon Chiang Mai'. The reservoir has now become a relaxing place for those looking for some peace and quiet. If you want to swim here, make sure you are strong enough as the water is 32m deep and there are no lifeguards.