Exploring Thailand's beautiful, colorful, and iconic Buddhist temples is always on travelers' must-do lists. The diversity and grandeur of the temples in and around Chiang Mai always impresses visitors. Some of Chiang Mai’s temples date back to the 14th century, adding an extra sense of wonder and awe to a tour.
The temples are so varied because they reflect the community of people who live and lived around them. Some of them are gleaming monuments to the faith of the surrounding community, while others are painstakingly hand-built offerings that show the devotion of the ancient Lanna people.
We’ve listed nine of the most original and iconic temples in and around Chiang Mai that you can visit in a weekend from our hotel near Tweechol Botanical Garden. We’ll start near the center of the old town area of Chiang Mai.
Wat Chedi Luang is located right in the middle of the old Lanna capital of Chiang Mai, which is surrounded by a moat. The main chedi is an awesome, imposing brick structure that’s 80-meters tall, the largest structure in Chiang Mai’s old city. Chedis are bell-shaped shrines with towers. They contain relics and important artifacts of Buddhism. The temple has undergone various additions and improvements over the centuries, but the original temple was established in 1385. It’s located at 103 Prapokkloa Road, Tambon Si Phum.
Wat Phra Singh illustrates the stunning diversity of Chiang Mai’s temples. The temple is a pristine and gleaming collection of chedis and buildings showcasing the Lanna style of architecture. The temple underwent a major renovation back in the 19th century and has been meticulously maintained ever since. You can find it at 2 Samlarn Road, Phra Sing.
Wat Sri Suphan continues to showcase diversity. It's like no other temple in Thailand. Instead of gold features, Wat Sri Suphan has elected to coat the structures and statues with silver paint, and the slender tips of the stupas are solid silver. This temple is a combination of new and old that has existed since the 16th century, while the main ornate silver building, nearby halls, and monk's quarters are much newer. The temple even has a modern multicolored light display at night. Its location is on Wua Lai Road, Tambon Hai Ya.
Just beyond the airport, you’ll find the 700-year-old temple called Wat Umong. The highlight of the temple is the surrounding, well-maintained tropical gardens, which you can explore and stroll around in. The temple has an aging and crumbling central stupa that serves as the garden’s focal point, and there’s a pond where you can feed the fish and turtles, and underground caves you can explore. The temple is at 135 Moo 10, Mueang Chiang Mai District.
Wat Sun Dok was constructed in the 14th century and features an array of beautiful pristine-white chedis that ring a tall golden stupa. It's one of the lesser-visited temples in the area and was built as a retreat for a revered monk from Sukhothai, the old capital of Thailand, in the 14th century. It’s located at 139 Suthep Road, Suthep.
This is one of the most colorful temples in the region and features a bright white and gold seated Buddha that looms almost 20 meters into the sky from the top of a wide staircase. The temple complex dates back almost ten centuries, and there are pagodas and shrines to explore in the well-tended gardens surrounding the Buddha statue. The temple is located in Mae Hia, Mueang Chiang Mai District.
This is one of the most stately and charming temples in Chiang Mai. It was built in the 13th century and was once the residence of the founder of Chaing Mai, King Mengrai. The ancient gold-topped crumbling pagoda is surrounded by broad lawns and intricately adorned buildings in the traditional Lanna style of architecture. It’s located on Ratchaphakhinai Road and Phra Poklao Road soi 13, in the old section of the city near Chang Puak Gate.
Also near Chang Puak Gate is Wat Lok Moli, a much-photographed temple known for its intricately detailed main temple hall with a stunning three-tiered roof. The temple hall has been carefully restored, although the crumbling chedi still awaits restoration. You can find it on 298/1 Manee Nopparat Road.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is the most famous and highly revered temple in Chiang Mai. Visiting the temple is a unique experience that requires climbing over three hundred steps to the much-photographed 600-year-old golden chedi at the top. The chedi towers over the other buildings in the complex and the city of Chiang Mai in the distance. The temple is located along Route 1004 at the top of Doi Suthep Mountain.
Booking a room at Horizon Village & Resort allows you to relax in tropical Lanna-style beauty after your tour of Chiang Mai’s amazing temples.
Our 246 Garden View and Lake View guest rooms, ranging from standard rooms to suites, offer traditional-style beauty, convenience and comfort. We specialize in hosting large or small conferences, and our three restaurants and numerous conference rooms can welcome up to 800 attendees. We also offer a wealth of services and facilities to make your conference a memorable success. For your next business conference, consider holding it in historic Chiang Mai near Tweechol Botanical Gardens and including a temple tour excursion as a conference highlight. Contact us for more information.
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