Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep 

The striking mountain back drop. The stunning waterfalls. The culturally intense museums. This and much more is what makes Chiang Mai such a wonderfully popular tourist destination to visit. But if there is one thing that cannot possibly be missed by visitors to the beautiful city, it would be the plethora of temples. With over 300 temples in the region, the one that presides over all of these is the temple of Doi Suthep, or better known to the Thais as Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep.

As the Wat Phrathat’s website says: “If you have not visited Doi Suthep, you have not been to Chiang Mai.” And rightly said. As one of the holiest wats in Thailand, the golden pagoda is not just a site of the most spectacular views of the city, but it is a representation of the city’s movement and progression from past to present.

From here, you can still see the moat that encircled the original city, but what really takes precedence is the temple itself. The cloisters are painted with bright murals and are filled with Buddha statues and, upon reaching the marble-floored room in the centre, encounter a fabulous golden chedi where flowers, light joss sticks and small squares of gold leaf can be offered for prayers and wishes.

The guardian temple of Chiang Mai can be seen from anywhere in the city. It presides over the people and is adored by all. As legend tells it, the pagoda was built at the top of the Doi Suthep Mountain because a white elephant was sent to the top of the mountain with a holy relic on its back. When it finally came to rest, it was seen as a sign for the relic to be buried and a temple was built over the spot. Since then, the temple has been continually expanded and embellished to what we see today.

It is wonderful to be able to understand the importance of Wat Phrathat to the people of Chiang Mai, but for non-Buddhist visitors to the city may not truly comprehend the significance. Despite this, it does not take away the impact of the breath-taking view from the top of the wat. The temple is not only a stunning backdrop for those who are in the city, but also offers unparalleled views onto it.

Today, the temple is accessible from the road that was built in the 1930s by a monk of Lanna Thai. This makes access to the adored temple simpler for the Buddhists who make regular pilgrimage up Doi Suthep and possible for tourists to the city. Visitors to the city can take the red taxi trucks or songthews to Doi Suthep, and from there on, they can either take a tram or walk up to the temple. Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is open every day of the week from 6am to 8pm. Entry to the temple costs 30 Thai Baht for foreigners (2006) and is free for nationals.

History

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep was commissioned by King Kuena, who ruled Chiang Mai from 1367 to 1388. According to legend, the temple was built after the monk Sumana presented King Kuena with a bone relic of the historical Buddha. The king searched far and wide for a suitable spot to build the temple, but none could be found.

Finally, the king tied the relic to the back of an elephant and set it loose. For days the elephant stomped through the jungle, shadowed by the king's men, until it reached the mountaintop of Doi Suthep. Construction began in 1386 and was completed within a few years.