Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Early morning
TOP TIP
Learn about the history and
symbolic iconography of the temples to appreciate what you're seeing
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further coverage,
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Chiang Mai's Temples Don't Miss List
BY DR RATANAPORN SETHAKUL, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF HISTORY, PAYAP UNIVERSITY
1 WAT PHRA SINGH
Wat Phra Singh (
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) houses a well-known Buddha image (Phra Singh),
which Thai people come to pay respect to regularly. During important festivals
the image is moved outside for public merit-making (Buddhist religious rituals).
Inside the sanctuary where Phra Singh resides are mural paintings depicting tra-
ditional life of ordinary people. My academic research is on Lanna social history
and culture so these murals are interesting for me.
2 WAT CHEDI LUANG
Wat Chedi Luang (
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) is well known for the city pillar (
làk meu·ang
or
sao inthakiln
), where an annual merit-making festival takes place prior to the
planting season. This pillar shows the historical relationship between the Mon-
Khmer people, the indigenous people of Lanna and the Tai people who came to
conquer this area in the 13th century. The temple was a centre of Buddhist edu-
cation from the 15th to the 16th century, educating many domestic and interna-
tional monastic students. The principal Buddha image is a standing one, which is
a different pose from the other temple's images.
3 WAT CHIANG MAN
Wat Chiang Man (
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) was built by King Mengrai and said to be the first
temple built in the founding of Chiang Mai as the capital of Lanna. The name is
auspicious:
chiang
means 'city' and
man
means 'stability'. The stone inscription
at the temple provides important historical evidence.
