3 must-see temples in Chiang Mai, Thailand

If you are going to have travel plan in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Today we have 3 temples must visit in Chiang Mai to recommend for your trip.

We went to Chiang Mai in September, even it is rainy season with rains and fog but these 3 temples still beautiful with different landscape. So, let's start with the first one.

1. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is the one of most sacred temples in the north of Thailand that have been founded in 1383 when the first stupa was built. The temple far from the city of Chiang Mai 15 kilometers.

We went to the temple in early morning of foggy day.

The way to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep there are 306 steps of Phaya Naga staircase lead to the temple.

Before we start the first step, we saw the statue of Kruba Srivichai , the monk who was the spiritual leader of over 5,000 true believers and disciples, inspiring them to build 11 kilometers road up to the temple in 1934.

In Buddhism Phaya Naga is mythical serpent-like creatures who is the guardian of the buddha and Buddhist religion.

When arrived the temple, we saw the big beautiful golden Stupa was shining among the white fog and the sun that start shining at above.

Within the temple are pagodas, statues, bells, a museum, and shrines.

Green glass Buddha statue

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is the 1st most important temple in Chiang Mai you must see and really do not miss.

2. Wat Chedi Luang

Wat Chedi Luang (Temple of the big stupa or temple of the royal stupa ) is a Buddhist temple in the historic center of Chiang Mai.

Before we entered to Wat Chedi Luang, there is Chaing Mai City Pillar or Sao Inthakhin, the city pillar of Chiang Mai that was first erected by King Mangraiat the founding of the city on April 12, 1296 CE at Wat Sadue Mueang and it was brought to its present location inside a shrine on the temple grounds of Wat Chedi Luang by the Lanna King Kawila in 1800 CE.

Sao Inthakhin building don't allow woman come inside because the belief of the Lanna, if the woman with menstruation come inside the place where buried the sacred pillar, it will make sacredness deteriorate.

Inside the building there are the morals that tell stories about Chaing Mai City Pillar and.

The buddha inside Sao Inthakhin building.

After that we entered to Wat Chedi Laung.

Wihan of Wat Chedi Luang

Inside Wihan.

Behind Wihan There is Chedi Luang, this construction in the 14th century, when King Saen Muang Ma planned to bury the ashes of his father there. After 10 years of building time it was left unfinished, later to be continued after the death of the king by his widow. Probably due to stability problems it took until the mid-15th century to be finished during the reign of king Tilokaraj. It was then 82 m high and had a base diameter of 54 m. In 1545, the upper 30 m of the structure collapsed after an earthquake.

In the early 1990s the Chedi was reconstructed, financed by UNESCO and the Japanese government. However the result is somewhat controversial, as some claim the new elements are in Central Thai style, not Lanna style.

3. Wat Phra Singh

Wat Phra Singh Woramahaviharn is located in the western part of the old city centre of Chiang Mai, which is contained within the city walls and moat. The main entrance is guarded by Singhs (lions), but actually Phra Singh is an abbreviated form of Phra-Put-Tha-Shi-Hing and does not refer to the word Singh ("lion").

Inside the temple there is Wihan Lai Kham, the main attraction of the complex. It was built in 1345 to house the Phra Buddha Singh statue and it is a prime example of classical Lanna architecture.