Temples In Chiang Mai

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is one of the most famous, important, and revered temples in Chiang Mai. An important pilgrimage site, it has a golden chedi, which catches the sun's rays and provides a beautiful sight to witness. This golden chedi is seen after climbing 309 stairs, along with the most beautiful craftsmanship any temple has ever seen. It has a shrine of a bone from a Buddha’s shoulder-mounted on a white elephant, considered sacred in Thailand.

This 14th-century Chiang Mai’s temple is famous for housing the world's largest Buddhist chedi, which stands 144 feet tall. The original chedi was built in 1481, but the current chedi here is a restoration chedi because the original one was destroyed in an earthquake in 1545. The ordination hall is an example of beautiful Lanna architecture, with its serpents being the temple's most famous feature.

Wat Phra Singh, a 14th-century masterpiece with three buildings, is one of the most important temples in Chiang Mai. Here, you will find Buddha statues covered in copper and gold, along with ancient manuscripts and spectacular wall paintings. One of the unique statues here is Pra Buddha Singh. This stone is taken for a religious procession through the city’s streets during ‘Song Kraan festivals,’ and devoyees splash water on it.

Known for its many pagodas, or white chedis, Wat Suan Dok is located in the old part of Chiang Mai and is among the oldest Chiang Mai temples. The literal translation of the temple’s name is "flower garden temple," as it is built on the site of what once was the royal garden. Amongst the many chedis, the tallest one is 48 metres long and has a Sri Lankan style with a Buddha relic inside.

The temple of the golden mountain, located on Doi Kham Hills, provides a spectacular mountainous view. With a statue of Buddha wearing a golden robe, it is 17 metres tall and also has over 1,300 years’ worth of history to tell. The ancient temple, which is a hidden gem in Chiang Mai, has a chedi that is 687 years old.

The founder of Chiang Mai, King Mengrai, built one of the most amazing Chiang Mai temples, Wat Chiang Man in 1296. It has a Lanna-style chedi, which a row of elephant-shaped buttresses supports. It also has a Lanna-style ordination hall with a magnificent Buddha named Phra Kaew Khao. There are two vihrams, and the larger one has a three-tiered roof with wooden carvings in ochre and golden colours.

Also known as Wat Lok Moli, it is one of the oldest temples in Chiang Mai, a royal Wat as kinds of Mengrai dynasty maintained this temple. Its main attraction is the impressive and largest chedis in the entire Chiang Mai. The chedi has a side part, and the upper part of it contains a niche with a Buddha image.

One of the most intriguing Chiang Mai temples set in the middle of a beautiful garden is Wat Phan Tao. It was a royal palace for Chao Mahawong, but in the 19th century, it was converted into a monastery. Its viharn is built using teak wood and is a visual treat for all visitors. It has a golden Buddha image with a tranquil pond and garden, making it a serene temple for offering prayers.

One of the important temples in Chiang Mai is Wat Chang Kong, also known as the elephant temple. A 15th-century temple with an architectural combination of Thai Lu and Lanna styles, it boasts multiple old Buddha statues. It is popular for housing the largest library in Thailand, storing the chedi and Tripitaka, a mic of Lanna and Sukhothai style.

This Chiang Mai temple is known for the beautiful white chedi guarded by 4 lion sculptures and the largest teak wood Buddha statue. Another visually appealing feature is the Dhamma prayer hall, where you can learn the teaching of Buddha through carvings and murals on the wall. The architecture here reflects the Burmese style and is a must-visit to learn about the life of Buddha.

This 15th-century Lanna-era temple is on the outskirts of the city. The royal temple’s architecture is influenced by the Indian, Lanna, Lao, Chinese, and Rattanakosin styles. The ashes of king Tilokkarat in whose reign the temple was built, is enshrined in one of the chedis in the temple. Its best feature is the viharn, Jed Yod, meaning seven peaks, referring to the seven chedis on the top.

One of the rarest visited temples in Chiang Mai, Wat Inthakin has an ornate vihran, Kuti- monks living quarters, and two chedis. Also known as Wat Sadue Muang, meaning ‘temple of the city navel’, refers to the spot in the city where the temple was built some 700 years ago. Inthakin Museum is next to the temple and is a must-visit to understand life during the Lanna kingdom.