Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is a must see destination in Chiang Mai, The temple is often referred to as “Doi Suthep” although this is actually the name of the mountain where it is located. It is a sacred site attracting many Thai people and tourists to pilgrim every day. Its popularity is well deserved, and the temple complex is so vast that you won’t mind sharing the experience. In fact, the panoramic view from the top of the mountain over the city and the land below is so breathtaking that you may not even notice the crowds. The temple is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the city of Chiang Mai and situated at an elevation of 1,073 meters.
The monastery was established in 1383 by King Keu Na to enshrine a piece of bone said to be from the shoulder of the historical Buddha. The bone shard was brought to Lanna by a wandering monk from Sukhothai and it broke into two pieces at the base of the mountain, with one piece being enshrined at Wat Suan Dok. The second fragment was mounted onto a sacred white elephant that wandered the jungle until it died, in the process selecting the spot where the monastery was later founded.
The wat can be reached by road from Chiang Mai. From the car park at the temple’s base visitors can climb 309 steps to reach the pagodas or take a tram. It’s also possible to hike up to the temple from the city following the Monk’s Trail.
Once inside the temple grounds visitors must be appropriately dressed and must remove footwear. The original gold plated chedi is the most holy area of the temple grounds. Within the site are pagodas, statues, bells, a museum, and shrines. Aspects of the wat draw from both Buddhism and Hinduism. There is a model of the Emerald Buddha and a statue of the Hindu God Ganesh. Views of Chiang Mai can be seen on the far side of the temple
