Wat Ngam Muang

The memorial to King Mengrai with his tomb in back.

One of the nagas guarding the stairs to the wiharn.

 
Between Doi Tong and Wat Phra Kaeo is the temple of Wat Ngam Muang. The temple's name means 'beautiful city' in Thai. It was founded in 1670 around a small chedi reportedly containing the ashes of King Mengrai, the founder of Chiang Rai and the Lanna kingdom. The chedi is supposed to have been built by Mengrai's son.

During the years of Burmese rule in the north, the temple was abandoned and at some point the chedi was plundered. It wasn't until 1952 that the temple was rebuilt. In 1964 a statue of Mengrai was built in front of his chedi, and it remains a place where people come to pray to this day.

At the top of a long naga staircase you find yourself in front of the wiharn. The front of the wiharn is elaborately decorated in red and gold. The stairs up to the wiharn are also lined with a naga on either side, with their tails curving around to top the balustrade of the portico.

Photo Gallery

To see more pictures of Wat Ngam Muang, see our online photo gallery.