Wat Khan Tom

Among all the monuments of Wiang Kum Kam, Wat Khan Tom (also known to Thais as Wat Chang Kum) is perhaps the most complete, and the most important among Thais. The temple is still a 'working' temple and even has a school attached.

In fact, its more or less because of the school that the full extent of the temple's history -- and to some extent all of Wiang Kum Kam -- was uncovered. It was when part of the temple grounds were being leveled to make a playground for the school that ancient amulets began began to surface. An investigation by the Fine Arts Department uncovered the foundations of a wiharn dating from King Mengrai's time.

The restored foundations of the chapel are now the centerpiece of the temple, which also contains a large chedi and a large bodhi tree said to have come from Sri Lanka nearly a thousand years ago.

Near the chapel ruins is a small but ornate chapel, really a spirit house, where King Mengrai's spirit is said to reside. Most Thais come to the temple specifically to pray to the King and seek his help with some problem.

There are many other chapels within the grounds, including the main prayer hall, which abuts the old chedi. Within the wiharn is a highly revered Buddha image set against a richly decorated background. The grounds are also dotted with large statues of mythical guardian beasts such as garudas and lions.