Chiang Mai offers many things, but the remarkable temples or wats are the most popular, for instance, Wat Chiang Man. In fact, Wat Chiang Man is one of the oldest and most visited temples in the city, which according to history, was founded in 1296.
When King Mengrai chose to create a new city and make it the capital of the Kingdom of Lanna, he built the temple as the first shrine of the town on the place he used to manage the construction of Wat Chiang Mai. The shrine holds a lot of ancient and significant images of Buddha.
If you’re planning to visit Chiang Mai from Bangkok, then Wat Chiang Man should definitely be on your list, and I’ll tell you everything you have to know in this travel guide.
What is Wat Chiang Man?
Wat Chiang Man is the first temple that was made in Chiang Mai. It was built in 1296 by King Mengrai who used it as a place to stay while he was making the city of Chiang Mai.
This temple is famous for its supports that look like elephants and its Lanna-style tower. Inside the Lanna-style ceremony hall, there’s an old Buddha statue called Phra Kaew Khao.
Where is Wat Chiang Man?
Wat Chiang Man is right in Chiang Mai’s Old City, near the moat and Chang Phuak Gate, in the northeastern part of the city’s square.
How to Get to Wat Chiang Man?
The Buddhist temple was situated North-East of the walled portion of the city stuck between 2 roads; Ratchaphakhinai 1 rd as well as Phra Pok Klao 13 rd. Entering the walled portion of the old city via Chang Puak gate in the north, you have to take a turn on the left side, heading to Ratchaphakhinai 1 road. The shrine is located in the right position after 200 kilometers. There is a huge sign, so you will never be lost.
Wat Chiang Man Opening Times
The Wat Chiang Man is open daily from 8.00 AM to 5.00 PM. Guests or visitors usually visit the place in the afternoon when the sun goes down, but if you want to avoid the crowd, I recommend coming right at the opening time, at 8.00 in the morning.
Wat Chiang Man Entrance Fee
This place can be visited for free. But you can also make a donation for the upkeep of the surroundings and the whole area as a whole.
Best Wat Chiang Man Tours
What to Expect at Wat Chiang Man
Wat Chiang Man is not just about the amazing location or remarkable images of Buddha; it has a lot of things to offer, and has a fascinating history, being the oldest temple in Chiang Mai, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Inside the premise, you will be bombarded with many remarkable sightings such as:
The Big Viharn
The bigger viharns is a remarkable structure with a 3-tiered roof. At the façade of the Lanna design, the viharn is accentuated with wood statues in ochre and gold colors-a stunning place that you must not miss inside the temple.
The structure was refurbished by Khru Ba Srivichai, a renowned monk, in the year 1920. This viharn holds the oldest image of Buddha in the entire Chiang Mai. Here, you will find a standing statue of Buddha that holds an alms bowl; the writing on its base dates back to 1465.
Small Viharn
Don’t miss to visit the small viharns inside the shrine, also made in Lanna style, containing two small but extremely old and important images of Buddha. The steps to the small viharns doorway are surrounded by Naga, a mythical creature that looks like a snake.
Opposite the entryway at the back of the big central image of the Buddha is a Ku, a structure that looks like a throne where you will see the two extremely revered images.
Phra Sila Buddha image
This Buddha comes with a bas relief stele carved from stone that depicts a standing Buddha. The Buddha image was from Sri Lanka many years ago. This extremely revered Buddha image is thought to have the control of bringing rain. So, this plays a vital role during the Songkran festivity held in April, before the rainy season.
Phra Sae Tang Khamani Buddha image
This is one of the many things you will see inside the shrine. This is a miniature image of Buddha made out of quartz crystal, also called Crystal Buddha. It’s not known precisely how old the Buddha is.
However, it is thought that it came from Chama Thewi, Haripchunchai Queen, in the eighth century. When the last quarter of the thirteenth century, King Mengrai burned hariphunchair, and the image of Phra Sae Tang Khamani Buddha survived the massive destruction and so thought to hold protective power.
Ubosot
The ordination hall or popularly known as the Ubosot by the locals, was constructed way back in the 19th century. The façade of the hall is accentuated with stunningly carved wooden details in ochre hues. Also, in front of the hall is a stone stele dated 1581, which mentions the date the Chiang Mai city was discovered, April 12, 1296.
Scripture Libray or Ho Trai
The scripture library, popularly called Ho Trai, is where the temple’s Buddha is kept. This is only a small building made of wood located on the peal of a white stone base to secure the scriptures from pests as well as flooding. This scripture hall is less elaborate compared to the Wat Phra Singh.
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Conclusion
Thailand is not just a perfect place for food and amazing beaches. Here, you can also find different Buddha temples, each with colorful and fantastic history. Wat Chiang Man is the oldest and one of the most visited temples in Chiang Mai. This is easy to reach from Chiang Mai city. It only takes about 10 to 12 minutes to walk. There are lots of things to see inside the temples. So, make sure you have a lot of free time.
