The former seat of the Lanna kingdom offers a blissfully calm retreat, perfect for relaxing and recharging in a city that still pulses with authentic Thai spirit and charm.
Perched high on its mountain throne overlooking Chiang Mai, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is one of northern Thailand’s most revered temples. Its founding legend is well known to every local schoolchild: in 1383, King Keu Naone established the monastery to house a sacred relic—a piece of the historical Buddha’s shoulder bone.
The relic’s journey is legendary. Brought from Sukhothai by a wandering monk, it split into two fragments at the mountain’s base. One was enshrined at Wat Suan Dok in the city; the other was placed on a white elephant that roamed until it died, marking the temple’s chosen site.
Visitors climb the 306-step staircase lined with elegant naga (mythical serpents), a spiritual act meant to earn Buddhist merit. At the summit, the temple grounds feature breadfruit trees, shrines, rock gardens, and a statue of the sacred white elephant. Before entering, children often pay respects to ‘Mom,’ the lizard-like guardian dragon.
The inner terrace encircles the golden chedi, crowned by a five-tiered umbrella symbolizing Chiang Mai’s independence from Burma and unity with Thailand. Pilgrims leave lotus blossoms and offerings among countless Buddha statues in diverse poses and materials.
The Doi Suthep Vipassana Meditation Center within the compound offers religious outreach and meditation programs for visitors seeking deeper connection.
Getting There
Rót daang (red trucks) operate from the city, including the zoo and Wat Phra Singh (40–50 THB per person), but departure depends on passenger numbers and driver discretion.
Private taxis, Grab rides, cycling tours, and hiking from the university are also popular options.
Though not as ornate as nearby Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang commands attention with its towering, partially ruined Lanna-style chedi, originally built in 1441. Once the largest structure in ancient Chiang Mai, the chedi’s spire was destroyed—likely by a 16th-century earthquake or 18th-century warfare—and has since been stabilized through restoration efforts by UNESCO and Japan.
The chedi once housed the original Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha) until 1475; today, a jade replica marks its former place. The base of the stupa features five elephants, four restored and one original, guarding its southern face. Restoration work is visible on the iconic naga stairways that climb from all four cardinal points.
Inside the main sanctuary stands the revered Phra Chao Attarot, a striking standing Buddha flanked by disciples. The grounds include additional chapels with impressive statues—a reclining Buddha and a Chinese-influenced seated Buddha—set within teak pavilions. The daily Monk Chat under a tree attracts curious travelers eager to learn more about Buddhism.
Entering from Th Phra Pokklao, visitors pass the Làk Meuang, another historic symbol of Chiang Mai.
Dominated by an enormous, mosaic-inlaid wí·hăhn (sanctuary), Wat Phra Singh stands as Chiang Mai’s spiritual heart. Its wealth is evident in lavish monastic buildings and impeccably maintained grounds, complete with coffee stands and massage pavilions. Pilgrims come to venerate the famous Phra Singh (Lion Buddha) image, housed in the ornate Wihan Lai Kham, a small chapel south of the temple’s chedi.
The elegant statue, believed to have arrived from Sri Lanka and enshrined in 1367, is adorned with gilded naga gables and intricate lai·krahm (gold-pattern stenciling) inside the chapel. Despite its fame, the Buddha’s origins remain mysterious—it resembles northern Thai images more than Sri Lankan ones, and two similar statues exist elsewhere in Thailand.
Wat Phra Singh plays a central role in religious life, especially during the Songkran festival when devotees gather for celebrations.
Also worth noting is the raised temple library, the Ho Trai, a delicate teak and stucco pavilion adorned with bas-relief angels reminiscent of Wat Chet Yot. The main chedi, with its classic Lanna-style octagonal base, was built in 1345 by King Pa Yo and is often wrapped in bright orange cloth by worshippers.
Warorot Market (also spelled Waroros) is Chiang Mai’s oldest and liveliest public market, offering an authentic glimpse into everyday Thai life. Beyond typical souvenirs, the bustling stalls sell practical household goods like woks, fishing nets, sticky-rice steamers, Thai-style sausages, pickled tea leaves, pork rinds (kâab mŏo), live catfish, and tiny spirit house statues.
Spending a few hours wandering its covered walkways lets you watch locals haggle and shop for real, useful items. The market’s riverside location is historic—most farm produce once arrived by boat along the Mae Ping River.
Next to Warorot is Talat Ton Lam Yai, the main flower market, while to the south lie more bazaars selling a mix of fresh food, fabrics, Chinese gold jewelry, and clothing. The northern bazaar buzzes with fruit vendors offering lychees, longans, mangosteens, and rambutans. Three-wheel pedicabs (săhm·lór), now rare, occasionally ferry shoppers home with their bounty.
Without doubt the most atmospheric wát in Chiang Mai’s old city, this teak masterpiece stands quietly near Wat Chedi Luang. Nestled within a compound adorned with fluttering orange flags, the monastery is a testament to the region’s historic teak trade. Its vast prayer hall is supported by 28 massive teak pillars and lined with rich dark teak panels, sheltering a particularly elegant golden Buddha statue.
The sight of monks in bright orange robes contrasted against the dark wood during evening prayers creates a truly sublime atmosphere.
Above the main facade, a striking depiction of a peacock above a dog symbolizes the astrological birth year of a former royal resident. The monastery becomes a spiritual hub during the Visakha Bucha festival (May or June), when monks light hundreds of butter lamps around the tranquil pond in the grounds.
Housed in the former Provincial Court building from 1935, this imaginative museum brings Lanna village life to life through detailed, life-size dioramas. Visitors can explore traditional crafts like lai·krahm pottery stenciling, the mystical fon lep dance with its long metal fingernails, and the rich symbolism woven into Lanna-style monasteries.
A week-long combo ticket also grants access to the Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Centre and the Chiang Mai Historical Centre, making it a great way to dive deep into the region’s history and culture.
Tucked away in the jungle on the way to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Wat Pha Lat offers a tranquil escape amid ancient stone structures, intricate carvings, naga-flanked stairways, and serene Buddhist statues. A picturesque walkway over a small waterfall provides stunning views of Chiang Mai below.
Founded in 1355, the temple’s legend tells of a white elephant belonging to King Kuena resting and dying at this site before the larger Doi Suthep temple was built. Wat Pha Lat served as a resting place for monks on pilgrimage and later became a meditation retreat after a road was built in 1935.
Unlike many tourist spots, Wat Pha Lat remains peaceful with no food stalls or shops, making it a favorite for those seeking quiet reflection.
Towering over Chiang Mai, Doi Suthep (1,676m) and Doi Pui (1,685m) are two of northern Thailand’s most sacred mountains, cloaked often in clouds and lush jungle. The 265-sq-km park surrounding them preserves diverse habitats—from lowland rainforest to mossy cloud forest—home to over 300 bird species and 2,000 types of ferns and flowering plants.
The park draws both pilgrims visiting Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and nature lovers keen on hiking, mountain biking, and wildlife spotting. Trails once used by hill-tribe villagers now serve as technical mountain biking routes offered by local tour operators.
Accommodations within the park provide a comfortable base. A 2 km trail leads from the campground to the summit of Doi Suthep, where misty views evoke a mystical atmosphere.
Waterfalls abound, including Nam Tok Monthathon, a year-round cascade with pools ideal for swimming during or after the monsoon (national park fee applies). Nearby Nam Tok Wang Bua Bahn offers a free, lively spot favored by locals.
Above the Bhubing Palace lie Hmong villages. Ban Doi Pui is a tourist market, while the nearby Ban Kun Chang Kian is a quieter coffee-producing village accessible via a dirt track.
Getting There:
The park entrance is 16 km northwest of central Chiang Mai.
Shared rót daang (red trucks) run from Chiang Mai University to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (50B one-way) and Bhubing Palace (80B one-way).
Private rót daang charters are available for about 600B for a half-day.
