Temples

Wat Phra Thad Doi Suthep was constructed in 1383 by King Ku Na. A naga-guarded staircase, more than 300 steps, leads up to the wat, from where, on clear days, the entire Chaing Mai valley can be seen. The inner sanctuary is one of the classic sights of ChiangMai. A gold-plated chedi lies in the middle of a square marble-tiled court-yard.         Wat Chedi Luang is a highly revered temple in ChaingMai. Near the entrance is a viharn with a deep porch and two nagas, one on either side of the steps leading to the shrine. Behind the viharn is an impressive chedi, originally built in 1411. It reached a height of over 85 meters before it was partially destroyed by an earth-quake in 1545. It now only reaches a height of 60 meters.         Wat Phra Singh, on the corner of Singharat and Raj-damnoen roads, was built in the reign of King Pha Yu(1345), the seventh king of the Mengrai dynasty. It is the finest example of a religious building. Its elaborate wood carvings and stucco figures were restored in 1927. Behind a large circular chedi is a small chapel housing the statue that gave the wat its name. The Phra Buddha Singh statue was supposedly made in Ceylon and transported to Siam during the Sukhothai period. On the walls of the chapel housing are fascinating murals dating from the 18th century.         Wat Chiang Mun has the distinction of being the oldest temple in ChaingMai and was built by King Mengrai in 1297. The king is said to have resided in the temple during the construction of the city.         Wat Suan Dok, about one kilometer west of Suan Dok Gate, has spacious grounds and a tranquil atmosphere.         Wat Ched Yod was built in the 15th century and is some-what similar to the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya in India.

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