I have been overwhelmed by the beauty surrounding me here in Chiang Mai, most specifically that from the numerous temples around the city. Of the sites I have visited so far, 3 special Buddhist temples in Old Chiang Mai stand out above the others.
Wat Chiang Man
The oldest temple built in 1297, within the town of the original Lawa people. King Mangrai was using this town as a base camp and it became the new capital, Chiang Mai, on April 12th, 1296 (or so the earliest record states).
I was drawn to this temple specifically for my adoration of elephants. The ‘Elephant Chedi’ is the oldest structure at the site. The base is surrounded by 15 life sized elephants which support the tower. Upon a close inspection, I noticed items that had been placed at the base of some of the elephants’ trunks.
There are two houses or wihan on these grounds. The main wihan has a number of standing Buddha statues at the altar. One has the date 1465 carved into its base making it the oldest statue of the Lanna Kingdom.
Walking around this beautiful temple, one has a complete sense of peace. Here I found lawns, huge towering plumeria trees that were littering the ground with their fragrant blooms. At the back is a lotus pond which is rare in Chiang Mai temples. A soft and kind atmosphere reverberates through the air here.
Wat Saen Mueang Ma Luang
In contrast to the previous temple which is the oldest in Chiang Mai, on the same day, I visited Wat Saen Mueang Ma. Most of the buildings inside this complex are almost brand new, however they have replaced ancient buildings, this is not a new site per say.
The chedi is the only structure that currently shows any age and is the original one. Its brick work is crumbling and plants have taken root, however it stands tall and is a beautiful reminder of the age of the temple.
The Wat Saen Mueang complex contains a number of administrative buildings which are elaborately decorated. Walking around I had to stop numerous times to have a closer look at the beautifully painted doors or embellished eaves surrounding me. Such an incredible sight of bright gold against darker colourful backgrounds.
An extraordinary sight here are the two large white mythical lion guardians in front of the smaller wihan. With their bright green glass eyes, they look frightening and alive!
Wat Khuan Khama
Located right next to the moat and just past the North Gate is the Wat Khuan Khama. This is not a fancy or elaborate temple, but has a charming story attached to it. On the placard at one entrance, it tells the story of the founding of Wat Khuan.
Originally the property was the garden of the horse groomer who was a close and loyal soldier to a General in the army. After his horse died, he ‘was very sad’ 😥 and decided to donate his garden for this temple that was constructed in 1492.
At the two main entrances are life sized gold horses and on top of the boundary walls are 20 smaller horses facing the street.
There are over 300 temples in Chiang Mai and a large portion of these are contained inside the old walled city. I will create another post, showcasing more of these amazing and beautiful ancient Buddhist temples. Chiang Mai is a special place for sure.
