Temples

Chiang Mai's temples are perhaps the most interesting of its many attractions. Unlike Bangkok, where few temples are more than 200 years old, some temples in Chiang Mai are as old as the city, which celebrated it's 700^th anniversary in 1996.

The one temple every first-time visitor absolutely, positively must see is the mountain-top Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. The temple is a "must see" not only for its importance as a pilgrimage temple, but also for the outstanding views it affords of the city and its surrounding plain, when the weather cooperates. A trip to the temple is usually combined with a stop at the royal Phu Phing Palace and the Doi Pui Maeo village.

There are, however, many other temples in Chiang Mai worth a visit. Some of these are a bit off the tourist trail, including our favorite, Wat Umong.

Tours to Doi Suthep and many other temples can be booked in advance through an online agency such as Viator.

Wat Chedi Luang: In its day, Wat Chedi Luang must have been the most impressive temple in Chiang Mai. Built about 600 years ago, the huge chedi which give the temple its name must have soared high above the surrounding city.
Wat Chiang Man: Probably the oldest temple in Chiang Mai, Wat Chiang Man is located near the Changpuek gate in the city's northern wall.
Wat Chiang Yuan: Although possibly very old, this temple just outside the northern moat was well maintained by the Burmese and Shan communities.
Wat Gate: Its not in any of the major guidebooks, but we think this temple on the east bank of the Ping River is definitely worth a visit. Don't miss the temple's museum, with hundreds of photographs showing life in Chiang Mai as much as a 100 years ago.
Wat Jed Yod: Slightly out of town on the northern loop of the ring road, this late 15^th century temple was built to host the Eighth World Buddhist council. Wat Jed Yod is unlike just about any other Thai temple. Its also next to the National Museum, so you can easily spend an afternoon viewing the temple and the museum.
Wat Lok Moli: An ancient temple just outside the northern moat, this temple was abandoned until recently.
Wat Pan Tao: Next to Wat Chedi Luang is a small interesting temple called Wat Pan Tao, which means "to increase 1,000 times." The temple was built around the same time as Wat Chedi Luang, in the late fourteenth century. It was one of four monastic temples serving the royal temple.
Wat Pa Pao: Its completely overlooked by all the guidebooks, but Wat Pa Pao is a quite unique temple in Chiang Mai.
Wat Phra Sing: Within the walls of the old city, Wat Phra Sing was started in the mid-fourteenth century. The Buddha image which gives the temple its name is one of the most revered in Northern Thailand.
Wat Saen Fang: A Burmese styled temple with a colorful chedi, located just off Tapae Road between the river and moat.
Wat Srisuphan: Near the center of the silver village just outside the Chiang Mai gate is - what else - the silver temple.
Wat Suan Dok: Just outside of the town walls on Suthep road, Wat Suan Dok is interesting for its large open-air sala and its many reliquaries containing the ashes of Chiang Mai's royal family.
Wat Umong: Chiang Mai's most unusual temple who's main feature is a maze-like system of tunnels.

In this section

Wat Chiang Yuan

A short way off the busy road along the northern moat is Wat Chiang Yuan. The temple appears to date from the earliest period of Chiang Mai. It was the custom for the kings of Chiang Mai to spend some time here before being crowned. The pagoda of Wat Chiang Yuan The temple was one of the few maintained by the Burmese during their 200 year occupation of Chiang Mai, and most of the structures seen in the temple today date from the Burmese period.

Wat Jed Yod

Wat Jed Yod is probably one of the least visited major temples. Jet Yod translates to "seven peaks" and refers to the seven chedis which top a structure in the temple complex (left). It's a very unusual - for Thailand - temple building. That's because it's a copy, sort of, of the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodhgaya in India. It was built in the fifteenth century to host the Eighth World Buddhist Council.

Wat Lok Moli

Across the moat on the northern edge of town is a 'new' temple based around an old temple dating back to the fourteenth century. A new elegant wooden prayer hall (wiharn) has been built, along with several quarters for monks. The new prayer hall in front of the old pagoda of Wat Lok Moli The original Wat Lok Moli was built in 1397. It was probably a royal temple, since the northern side of the city was a royal precinct at the time.

Wat Pa Pao

It's completely overlooked by all the guidebooks, but Wat Pa Pao is a quite unique temple in Chiang Mai. It's not as ancient as many of the temples of the city. It was built late in the nineteenth century by the Thai Yai community, an ethnic group originating in the Shan States of Burma. The temple stills sits in small grove of the pao trees that gave the temple its name.

Wat Suan Dok

The fourteenth century temple of Wat Suan Dok is located just west of the old city walls on Suthep Road. The temple was built by King Keu Na of Lanna for a revered priest visiting from Sukhothai as a place for the monk to spend the rains retreat. The name of the temple roughly translates to "field of flowers." The gilded pagoda and the massive open-air prayer hall. There are several unique features to this temple that you won't see in just about any other wat around Chiang Mai, or even elsewhere in Thailand.