Hello!
If you were in Thailand for the magical madness that is Songkran, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!
Lately we’ve been thinking about what makes this city so great: the gorgeous temples, beautiful nature spots, cafe culture, and more are what make it such a liveable city. So, we decided to put together a series of posts about what there is to do in Chiang Mai. On this edition, we’re talking about Temples!
Wat Phra Singh, which began construction in the year 1345, is one of the most famous temples in Chiang Mai. It has an elegant and notable chedi, and is located near many great restaurants and thrift shops in the West corner of the city.
This wat is located in the center of the city, and boasts a striking brick structure that has the same ruined look as the walls surrounding the Old City. Wat Chedi Luang was once the tallest building in Lanna (Chiang Mai’s former name), until an earthquake in the 16th century destroyed the top 30m of the structure. It’s a fantastic place to take in a massive historical structure!
Wat Chiang Man (sometimes called Wat Chiang Mun) was built in 1297, making it one of the first temples built in the city. It’s located in the northeast corner of the Old City, and is a very tranquil place to go. It’s never too crowded, so feel free to spend a day mediating in the garden on the temple grounds!
Wat Umong, like Wat Chiang Man, was also built in the late 13th century. It’s located on Suthep mountain, in a forested area that covers 15 acres of gorgeous land. It has ancient structures, and the added benefit of nature, making it the best place to hike to before you enter a meditative state.
Wat Doi Suthep is by far the most notable temple in Chiang Mai. It’s located on Suthep mountain, about 15km from Chiang Mai City. The elaborate temple has a famous golden Chedi, a staircase surrounded by emerald naga statues, and a mythical legend associated with it. The beautiful staircase that leads to the temple is a taxing 309 steps (worth the sweat), but you can take a tram to the top if you’d prefer. For the shear magic of it, there’s no reason to leave Chiang Mai without visiting this epic temple!
