Known to the central Siamese as the Lao States at the turn of the 20th century; the northern region of what is now Thailand was an independent region known as the Lanna kingdom. The main city; Chiang Mai; was built in 1296 by King Mengrai. The city was abandoned in 1776鈥?1 due to Burmese invasions; but became an acknowledged part of Siam around the same time. The north was linked to Bangkok only by river; a journey which could take some six months; until in 1922; a railway was completed which connected Bangkok and Chiang Mai.