Pin It
Pages Menu
TwitterFacebook
Categories Menu

Posted by on Jul 15, 2013 in Countries, Thailand | 0 comments

Chiang Mai Thailand – Temples you can’t miss!

Chiang Mai Thailand – Temples you can’t miss!

Chiang Mai is overflowing with ancient Buddhist temples (Wats) dating back to when the city was originally founded in 1296. The intricate carving and stunning hand painted murals inside them are absolutely treasures.

Chiang Mai Thailand – Temples

 

Chiang Mai temples

 


Since Chiang Mai was founded over 700 years ago successive Kings left their own mark on the city by building everlasting Temples. That so many Temples have survived is testament to both the skills of the original builders and the dedication of the many artisans that followed to maintain them for future generations. The Temples today still form an important part in the lives of the Thai people and are in use daily.

There are over 200 temples in and around Chiang Mai to see and experience.

 

Some of the most impressive for me, were the wood carved temple and the golden temple.
The wood carved temple or Wat Pan Tao, is absolutely impressive, specially because of the extreme contrast of colors, shapes and textures of the gold and old  dark wood.

Wat Pan Tao which means “to increase a 1.000 times” was build in the fourteenth century and meant to serve the royal temple next door.

 

Chiang Mai temples 
Chiang Mai temples
Wat Mahavan

 

Chiang Mai temples
Detail wat Mahawan

 

Chiang Mai temples
A ruin at theback of the  Wat Mahawan

 

At the big Wat Chedi Luang you can experience a unique opportunity to attend a monk chat, where you can talk and ask whatever you want to a Buddhist monk.

This program is a great way for tourists to get to know more about Buddhism and the lives of the monks, whereas the monks get a chance to practice their English and spread the message of Buddhism.

Since woman are not allowed to approach a monk directly, I sat for 15 minutes at the wat waiting for a monk to chat with, but no monk arrived, so I ended up leaving with a slight sense of frustration, since it was my last day in Chiang Mai, before heading to Pai.

 

Chiang Mai temples
A young monk ringing the bell at the temple

 

For more info about monk chats: Wat Chedi Luang
Location: Prah Pokklao Road, between Ratchadamnoen Road and Ratchamankha Road

Between 1 to 6:30 pm every day of the week.

Chiang Mai temples
Wat Chedi Luang

 

There’s a lot to see and experience in Chiang Mai, but I’m heading up north, to the village of Pai…. Pai is famous for it’s alternative and progressive lifestyle, a woodstock lost in time.

That’s where I’ll be heading to on the next post: the amazing Pai and the incredible food!

Leave a Reply