The Golden Temple Overlooking Chiang Mai – Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Visits to Chiang Mai is incomplete without a visit to their Temples. Apart from the “Big Four” Temples in Old City, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is one of the most visited temples in Chiang Mai. The Wat Doi Suthep sits on top of the mountain Doi Suthep, seemingly watching and protecting the city of Chiang Mai. The journey from Chiang Mai city to the Wat Doi Suthep takes us to pass windy mountainous routes where we saw a glimpse of the city resting on the plains at the foot of the mountain. Wat Doi Suthep is perched on top of 309 stairs. There is a tram service that ferries visitors to the top of the slope where the temple sits in around 5 mins. Wat Doi Suthep’s facade itself looks like a work of art. Decked with red, green and gold paints with intricate carvings, the layer roofed tall and slim structure that surrounds the temple is portrays distinctive Thai-style architecture.

Lanna Temple Art and Architecture – Wat Phra Singh

Leaving Doi Suthep, we headed to the nearby Wat Phra Singh, located in the western part of the Old City. Wat Phra Singh is a temple typical of Lanna art and architecture. Wat Phra Singh is a temple dedicated to the Lion Buddha. A Lanna styled and rather new large 3-layer roofed temple structure sits facing the main entrance to the temple greeting visitors. Most visitors would stop by this temple building during their visit to Wat Phra Singh. The decor inside this temple building exudes simple yet revered feel. There are no elaborated paintings on its walls, nor detailed carvings inside this temple building. At the end of the building, a large Buddha statue sits solemnly, seemingly welcoming visitors offering their prayers. Next to this Buddha statue are several wax figurines of past abbots of Wat Phra Singh. The treasure of Wat Phra Singh is not housed in this building, but in a less elaborated building further into the temple grounds. Behind the main temple, the building is a small inconspicuous wooden building, the Ubosot, used for the ordination of monks. Built-in 1806, this simply decorated building but richly decorated with wooden carvings, houses a smaller image of the Lion Buddha and a replica of the famed Emerald Buddha (now housed in the Grand Palace in Bangkok).

The White Temple – Wat Sri Don Moon

The third temple that we visited today is a local temple, with literally no foreign visitors. Unlike the previous 2 temples we visited so far, Wat Sri Don Moon does not charge entrance fees. On our way to Wat Sri Don Moon, stopped at a Thai restaurant for lunch. Wat Sri Don Moon is located southeast of Old City and is about 30 mins drive from Old City. This temple can easily be missed by visitors to Chiang Mai as it is located in a remote part of the city. Wat Sri Don Moon is an all-white temple from the structure to the roof of the temple building. Unlike the temples we have visited so far, there is no layered roofing in Wat Sri Don Moon. Instead the roof of this temple building is painted in gold, giving the temple a unique look. The interior of Wat Sri Don Moon is decked with colours of all hues, unlike its exterior. Inside the temple houses 2 statues of white Buddha, enclosed in a glass case. What attracts me most in this temple is the artwork painted on the walls of the temple. The paintings seem to relate to the life of Buddha and how he attained nirvana. Perhaps due to the lack of visitors, Wat Sri Don Moon appears to me as more serene and peaceful. We headed back to the hotel to rest and have dinner before ending our day with shopping along the night bazaar just outside the hotel we stayed.