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Wat Phra Singh
Intersection of Sam Lan and Rajadamnern Rd.
This beautiful temple, built in 1345 by King Pha Yu in order to keep the remains of King Kam Fu his
father, is located in the heart of the city. A tall concrete-base with a wooden structure of the scriptural repository were designed to keep and protect sacred texts written on palm leaves and the delicate Saa paper known as mulberry paper.
Moreover, Wat Phra Singh is one of Chiang Mai's center points of Songkran festivities on April 13-15 when people bathe the revered Phra Singh Buddha image, located in Lai Kham chapel where woodcarvings and northern-style murals have been
found. The Lai Kham chapel is located behind the main chapel.
Wat Suan Dok
Opposites the Faculty of Dentistry on Suthep Rd.
In 1383, this exquisite temple was constructed in the pleasure gardens of Lana Royal Residence. Therefore, several white chedis, pagoda, contain ashes of Chiang Mai's former royal family. The 500-year-old bronze Buddha image, one of Thailand's largest metal images, is located in a secondary chapel.
Wat Chedi Luang
Phra Pok Klao Rd.
With an extensive pagoda, Wat Chedi Luang once housed the revered Emerald Buddha image now enshrined in Thailand's famous temple, Wat Phra Kaeo in Bangkok. Wat Chedi Luang, which means "big pagoda" in the northern dialect, was constructed in 1401 by King Muang Ma and the chedi was enlarged by King Tilo Garaj in 1454. The ruin pagoda, partially destroyed by the great earthquake in 1545, was renovated as its original in 1992. Also, a magnificent Naga staircase of the chapel's front porch is attractive.
Wat U-Mong
Off Suthep Rd.
A meaning of the temple's name is a temple in the cave. King Meng Rai built Wat U-Mong for a forest monk who wants to practice Buddhism and meditation in an isolated and peaceful
area. Visitors can enjoy the ancient chedi, a forest surrounding, and an open zoo and may recognize those scenes from some Thai and
Hollywood movies.
Wat Chiang Man
The temple is in the township of Chiang Mai. It is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai, older than the city of Chiang Mai itself. It is said that King Mengrai, the founder of Chiang Mai, resided in this temple while directing the building of the new Lanna capital. The temple houses two sacred ancient Buddha images. The stupa in this temple imitates the stupa at Si Satchanalai.
Wat Pra Thart Doi Suthep
Suthep mountainous area beyond Hauy Keaw Rd.
With an exquisite location amongst the peaks of Suthep mountain, visitor can experience a spectacular panoramic view of the city of Chiang Mai and Ping river valley. The site was selected by sending an elephant to wander on the mountain. When the elephant found the spot, it circled three times, trumpeted, and knelt down where the temple is located. Nowadays, the temple is the symbol of Chiang Mai. Kru ba Sri Wichai built the road to the temple.
Wat Chedi Chet Yot (Wat Photharam Mahawihan)
The temple is located at Km. 4 on Chiang Mai-Fang Highway. Chedi Chet Yot literally means the seven spired stupa. The body of the structure is a cave-like rectangular hall. Inside the cave is a Buddha image, on the roof there are five stupa towers on square bases, each looks like the great at Bodh Gaya, India. The largest stupa is in the middle. Two more Chiang Saen stupas are on the front. This stupa was built under the command of King Tilokarat of Lanna, in about 1477 A.D. The first Sangkhayana (Buddhism Doctrines revision) in Thailand was held in this temple at that time.
Wat Ku Tao
The temple is in the township. The stupa was built in the year 1613 in the shape of five gourds to represent five Lord Buddhas.
Chiang Mai National Museum
The museum is located close to Wat Chedi Chet Yot. It is small but well maintained. The museum has many rare collections of Buddha heads, images and artifacts from many periods. It also has collections of howdahs, coffin covers, displays of hill tribe custumes, northern-style household gadgets and two ancient kilns.
Old Chiang Mai Cultural center
The center is on Wualai road in the southern part of the city. The center is a complex of northern style houses with comprehensive exhibitions of folk crafts and
antiques. Also on show is a hill tribe village way of life. In the evenings, the center holds the traditional "KHANTOKE" dinner for
visitors. At Khantoke dinner guests and hosts sit on mats on the floor around a round table and are served a northern meal of sticky
rice, Kang Hung Le, Sai Ua and some side dishes. They share the same dishes, eating with their
fingers. Entertainment is generally provided in the form of different northern Thai classical dances during the
dinner.
Wiang Khum Khan
The ruins of this former Mon city is located about 5km south
of Chiang Mai.The city was established around the 12th and 13th
centuries, before being abandoned in the 18th century. Archaeologists
have been painstakingly uncovering the past of this site, which covers
about 9 sq km and contains the ruins of more than 20 wats.
The most complete of all the ruins is that of Wat Chang Kham, or
as it was known in the Mon language, Wat Kan Thom. The most notable of
the ruins is the Wat Chedi Si Liam, a stepped-pyramid which shows the
distinct and unique style of Mon architecture.
The most important discovery by archaeologists was an inscribed stone
slab, which has cast doubts over the previous assumption that the Thai
script was compiled by King Ramkamhaeng.
Chiang Mai Zoological Park
Is located near Chiang Mai University. The zoo is the largest zoo in
Thailand. It contains over 500 animals housed in pens set among the
attractive landscaped grounds.
Just before the entrance to the zoo in Huay Kaeo Arboretum is an
attractively landscaped garden which has many kinds of trees and
flowers. Not far from here is the delightful Huay Kaew Falls which is
an ideal place for picnics.
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