Rating: 4/5 (6 votes)

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.00–17.00

 

Wat Chiang Man is the true starting point of Chiang Mai’s history and continues to serve as a spiritual center for the local community today. Located on Ratchaphakhinai Road in Si Phum Subdistrict, Mueang Chiang Mai District, within the old city moat, it is widely recognized as the oldest temple in Chiang Mai. The temple was established in 1839 BE during the reign of King Mangrai the Great, at the same time the city of Chiang Mai was founded. As such, it is regarded as the first royal monastery of the Lanna Kingdom and a foundational landmark in every dimension of the city’s history.

 

When King Mangrai founded Chiang Mai, the Chiang Man area was used as his temporary residence to oversee the construction of the city. After the city was completed, he ordered the construction of a stupa on the site of his residence and established it as a temple, granting it the name “Wat Chiang Man.” This historical account is clearly recorded in the Wat Chiang Man inscription (Inscription No. 76), dated to 1839 BE, confirming the temple’s status as a major religious and political center in the early period of Chiang Mai.

 

Wat Chiang Man enshrines one of Chiang Mai’s most important Buddha images, Phra Sila or Phra Sila Buddha, commonly known as Phra Kaew Khao (the White Crystal Buddha). This sacred image has long been deeply revered by the people of Chiang Mai and the Lanna region and is considered a guardian Buddha of the city. Paying respect to Phra Kaew Khao is therefore seen as a way to connect directly with the spiritual heart of Chiang Mai.

 

The architecture within Wat Chiang Man reflects the evolution of Lanna art across multiple periods. The most distinctive structure is the bell-shaped stupa set on a square base and encircled by elephants. This stupa stands on a two-tiered square platform, with fifteen half-elephant sculptures emerging from the base. Each elephant appears to support the stupa, symbolizing strength, stability, and the sustaining power of Buddhism.

 

The stupa’s architectural details are intricate and refined, beginning with the base decorated with inverted lotus motifs, bead-and-reel moldings, and upright lotus forms, supporting a twelve-cornered square reliquary chamber. Each side is adorned with symmetrically arranged niches. Above, the structure rises through multiple layers, including lotus tiers, garland motifs, the bell-shaped body, the throne, and an ornate metal finial decorated with palm-leaf patterns, segmented rings, the spire, and dew-drop ornaments. Together, these elements demonstrate the mastery of Lanna craftsmanship and its deep symbolic meaning within Buddhist art.

 

Other significant structures within the temple complex include the traditional Lanna-style assembly hall (viharn), the ordination hall (ubosot) used for major Buddhist ceremonies, and the scripture hall (ho trai). The ho trai is a two-story building, with a brick-and-mortar lower level and an upper wooden structure, traditionally used to store palm-leaf manuscripts that preserve Buddhist teachings and Lanna intellectual heritage.

 

Historically, Wat Chiang Man underwent restoration and expansion during several important periods. During the reign of King Tilokkarat in 2014 BE, a new stupa was constructed using laterite stone. Later, during the period of Burmese rule over Chiang Mai, Chao Fa Mangtra (King Maha Dhammikarajathirat) commissioned Phraya Saen Luang to build key structures such as the viharn, ubosot, ho trai, dhamma seat, and the ceremonial gateway. In the era of King Kawila (2325–2367 BE), the temple was extensively restored as part of the revival of Chiang Mai following the city’s liberation.

 

Today, Wat Chiang Man remains a living temple—an active center for community life and religious ceremonies rooted in Thai tradition. Visitors not only encounter historical value and refined Lanna art but also experience an atmosphere of living faith that has continued for more than seven centuries. Wat Chiang Man is therefore more than a tourist attraction; it is a place that connects the past, the present, and the spiritual identity of Chiang Mai into one enduring space.

 

Getting There Wat Chiang Man is located on Ratchaphakhinai Road within Chiang Mai’s Old City. It is easily accessible by private car, motorcycle, public transport, or on foot from nearby landmarks such as Tha Phae Gate, Wat Chedi Luang, and the Three Kings Monument. As the surrounding area is a historic community zone, visitors are advised to respect temple regulations and local customs.

 

 

A: It is the oldest temple in the city and the first royal monastery, established at the same time Chiang Mai was founded by King Mangrai.

 

A: Phra Kaew Khao, formally known as Phra Sila Buddha, is a sacred Buddha image revered as a guardian of Chiang Mai.

 

A: The elephants represent strength and stability, symbolizing the support and preservation of Buddhism.

 

A: It is ideal for visitors interested in history, culture, and understanding the origins of Chiang Mai.

 

A: The temple is located in Chiang Mai’s Old City and can be reached easily by car, public transport, or on foot from nearby landmarks.