Exploring Chiang Mai Temples: My Unforgettable 3-Day Journey

Thailand ranks at the top of many people’s dream destination lists, and rightly so. Of the more than 100 countries I’ve traveled to, Thailand is the one that offers something to everyone who visits. However, many travelers visit Bangkok and the southern islands and tend to miss out on the northern part of the country, which I consider one of its best parts. 

Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second biggest city behind Bangkok, is the central hub for exploring northern Thailand. The city features hundreds of ancient temples, a fantastic and unique food scene, and an incredible natural scene, as it is surrounded by mountains.

Although I had made it to the country’s northern parts when I crossed the land border with Laos years ago, I had never visited Chiang Mai before this trip. So I was incredibly excited to see this city that I had heard so many travelers speak so highly of.

Here’s a look at how my wife and I spent 3 days in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Arriving in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is a reasonably sized city with a metropolitan population of slightly over 1 million. It is served by 1 international airport, Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX).

The airport has frequent flights from major cities in Thailand, like Bangkok (BKK), Phuket (HKT), and Krabi (KBV) and some international flights from neighboring countries.

Unfortunately, there are no nonstop flights between Chiang Mai and any U.S. airport. In fact, there is no nonstop flight between Bangkok, one of the biggest cities in the world, and any U.S. airport.

Where To Stay in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is a relatively small city divided into separate sections. You could go from one end of the downtown area to another in under 30 minutes.

Where to stay in Chiang Mai ultimately depends on what you want to do. Fortunately, the neighborhoods in the city are pretty walkable.

Nimmanhaemin

Nimmanhaemin, or just Nimman to locals, is Chiang Mai’s most modern and hip neighborhood. The area is widely regarded as the digital nomad capital of the world, with many expats working at the hundreds of cafes on every corner.

The area also has many trendy restaurants, shopping boutiques, rooftop bars, and a more upscale nightlife scene. Accommodations are a bit more expensive in Nimman, as it’s the place to be for those visiting the city.

We spent 1 night at the AMANOR Hotel Chiang Mai, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) that participates in Hilton Honors, and the rest of the nights at a local guesthouse.

Nimman is also relatively close to the airport, which can be a nuisance for many, as the area falls directly under its flight path. However, I absolutely loved planes flying so close above my head.

Old City (Near Tha Phae Gate)

Chiang Mai’s Old City is easy to find on the map, as it is inside a massive wall (forming a near-perfect square) in the city’s center.

The area has many ancient Buddhist temples, night markets, cafes, and restaurants. There’s also a great selection of affordable accommodation options, including guesthouses, hostels, and hotels.

The Old City has many famous sites, including Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chiang Man, the Tha Phae Gate, and the fortress walls.

Night Market

The city’s busiest night market, the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, lies just east of the Old City. Although the area is quiet throughout the day, it becomes hectic in the evening when stalls and shop owners set up.

Many bars, clubs, and restaurants are around the night market area, although it doesn’t have as many tourist attractions as the other neighborhoods mentioned.

Day 1

Chiang Mai is well-known for its deep and complex history spanning several centuries. It served as the capital of the Lanna Thai kingdom for several hundred years and was a significant site of Buddhist temples, with over 300 still remaining in the city.

We spent nearly our entire first day visiting several important Buddhist temples, mainly around the Old Town area.

Wat Lok Moli

Wat Lok Moli is a 14th-century Buddhist temple just outside the old walled city center of Chiang Mai. The temple was built during the period of Phaya Guena, the sixth king of the Lanna Kingdom. 

The temple was built to house Burmese monks (from present-day Myanmar) who spread the teachings of Buddha. Inside the temple, the ashes of several prominent figures from the Mengrai dynasty are also on display.

Wat Lok Moli has the largest chedi (stupa) in the entire city. It is different from most others in that it resembles a stone castle. Numerous Buddha statues surround the chedi.

Several Buddha statues were scattered throughout the temple grounds. The main shrine held a massive, gold-plated Buddha statue in meditation pose.

The Wat Lok Moli temple grounds are open 24 hours a day, but the main shrine in the temple is open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no admission charge to enter the temple.

Wat Rajamontean

Next, we walked less than a minute to Wat Rajamontean, a temple not originally on our radar. With more than 300 temples in the city, we knew we were bound to find lesser-known ones.

Like Wat Lok Moli, Wat Rajamontean, also known as the Dragon Temple, has a rich history that dates back to the ancient Lanna Kingdom. It was established in 1431 by King Tilokarat, and the first temple was commissioned during his reign.

The temple featured a large central stupa with numerous shrines around it. However, its defining feature was the massive Buddha statue in the enlightenment pose.

Inside the temple were several other large Buddha statues, and the same maroon and gold colors continued.

Wat Rajamontean is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no admission charge to enter the temple.

Wat Saen Muang Ma Luang (Wat Hua Khuang)

Next, we walked about 10 minutes to another smaller, lesser-known temple: Wat Saen Muang Ma Luang, often called Wat Hua Khuang. Although the exact date is not known, it is believed that this temple was built around 1518.

Wat Hua Khuang featured a large, distinctive Lanna-style chedi and a massive library of religious manuscripts. As expected, there were numerous Buddha statues throughout the temple grounds.

Like Wat Rajamontean, this temple also had a maroon and gold color scheme. However, unlike it, this temple was empty and we had the entire place to ourselves (aside from the monks living there).

Wat Chiang Man

Next, we walked to Wat Chiang Man, the oldest temple in Chiang Mai and 1 of its 3 major temples. It was built in 1296 by King Mengrai, who founded the city as the new capital of the Lanna Kingdom.

The temple is best known for its unique chedi, which has a Lanna-style spire but a square Sinhalese base. The base is surrounded by 15 elephants protruding from the stone, which shows ancient Sri Lankan and Indian influences.

One of the shrines inside the temple featured these incredible white, mystical snake-like creatures near its entrance.

However, arguably the most interesting part of this temple was the shrine that featured hundreds of unique artworks depicting Buddhist scriptures.

Wat Chiang Man is open daily from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is no admission fee to enter the temple.

Wat Inthakhin Sadue Muang

To end our day of temple excursions, we walked a few minutes to Wat Inthakhin Sadue Muang, another relatively small and unknown temple.

Wat Inthakhin is best known for being the original location of a pillar placed by King Mengrai in the old city’s exact center. King Kawila moved the Inthakin city pillar to Wat Chedi Luang in 1800.

The exterior of Wat Inthakhin was almost entirely black with gold decorations all around it.

The inside of the temple was among the coolest I had ever seen. It was dark, with dark teak and gold artwork throughout the pillars and walls.

It also featured 5 main Buddha statues of varying sizes. Most of the statues were white Buddhas made of alabaster or porcelain. Additionally, the Buddha statues had silk robes draped over their left shoulders.

Wat Inthakhin is open daily from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., and there is no admission charge to enter the temple.

Hot Tip:

You’ll find lots of guided tours and excursions in Chiang Mai through Viator, from cooking classes to hikes in national parks to elephant encounters.

Day 2

Although we spent nearly the entire first day visiting Buddhist temples, we had a lot of fun and were excited to see some more of them on the second day.

Wat Phantao

We started the day by visiting Wat Phantao, one of the city’s most famous temples. Built toward the end of the 14th century, it served as a throne hall and royal residence for King Mahotara Prateth, the fifth ruler of Chiang Mai.

The temple’s central Buddha statue, Phan Tao Buddha, is in the seated position on the main altar. This signifies the calling of earth to witness, or the Buddha reaching enlightenment.

Outside the main temple were several other large Buddha statues, including this white one surrounded by nature. There was also a central chedi, with smaller chedis surrounding it.

Wat Phantao is especially important because it hosts celebrations for the Visakha Bucha festival, one of the most important festivals in Buddhism. The festival celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha.

Wat Phantao is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no admission charge to enter the temple.

Watchediluang Varaviharn (Wat Chedi Luang)

Next, we headed to Wat Chedi Luang, next door to Wat Phantao, another of Chiang Mai’s 3 major temples. In the northern dialect, “luang” means “large, ” which fits, as Wat Chedi Luang is home to Chiang Mai’s largest chedi.

The temple was built in 1391 and completed in 1481 to enshrine King Saen Muang Ma’s father’s ashes. At its peak, it stood 85 meters (278 feet) high. In 1545, a massive earthquake destroyed much of the chedi. It was partially restored in the 1990s.

The temple also once held the Emerald Buddha, the most revered Buddha in Thailand. Today, the Emerald Buddha is in Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok.

The temple’s main Buddha statue is a bronze statue standing in the pose of overcoming fear, with a hand gesture dispelling dread. It is surrounded by several massive columns covered with gold patterns and designs.  

Wat Chedi Luang is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adults pay a ฿50 ($1.50) admission charge. Additionally, women are not allowed to enter certain shrines at Wat Chedi Luang.

Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan

Next, we headed to Wat Phra Singh, also known as the Monastery of the Lion Buddha. The temple is the last of Chiang Mai’s major 3 temples.

Wat Phra Singh dates back to the 14th century and was built on the orders of King Phayu, who ruled the Lanna kingdom from 1336 to 1355. He wanted to enshrine the ashes of his father, King Kamfu, the previous ruler.

The temple’s main Buddha statue is Phra Singh Buddha, one of the most important in Chiang Mai.

The highlight is the gold and copper Buddha statue, called the Earth Touching Buddha, built in 1477. It is in the calling-the-earth-to-witness posture (legs crossed, the left hand in the lap, and the right hand pointing to the ground with the palm facing inward toward the Buddha). This posture signifies the moment of Buddha’s enlightenment.

The temple complex had many buildings, including shrines, libraries, prayer rooms, living quarters, and ordination halls (where monks get ordained).

It also had several shiny golden pagodas. They were exceptionally well-preserved and had been repainted with gold sheets.

Wat Phra Singh is open daily from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Adults pay ฿50 ($1.50) to enter the temple.

Wat Sri Suphan

Next, we headed to Wat Sri Suphan, one of Chiang Mai’s most famous temples. It is commonly called the Silver Temple because its ordination hall is entirely made of silver, nickel, and aluminium. The temple is in the Haiya area of Chiang Mai, home to the old silver quarter. Today, there are still many silver craftsmen’s shops in the area.

The original temple was built in 1502 during the reign of King Kaeo, the 11th ruler of the Mangri Dynasty. It has been rebuilt several times since, and almost none of the original temple remains intact.

The exterior of the ordination hall, traditionally where monks are ordained, features intricate and detailed carvings of various mythical creatures and deities. Most of the hall was constructed between 2004 and 2016, thus differing from all the other temples we had seen.

The inside was just as intricate, with various mythical creatures derived from Buddhist texts. In contrast to the rest of the room, there was a main gold Buddha statue.

Looking back toward the hall’s entrance, I noticed even more intricate carvings of various figures, deities, and dragons. Everything was pristine, which made sense, as almost everything was relatively new compared to all the other ancient temples.

Wat Sri Suphan is open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The entrance fee is ฿ $50 ($1.50). Women are not allowed to enter the main ordination hall, which is the temple’s highlight.

One Nimman

To end another incredible day in Chiang Mai, we headed to One Nimman, a partially open-air shopping mall home to many shops, art galleries, cafes, tea shops, beauty parlors, restaurants, and bars. 

One Nimman serves as a cultural hub in the Nimman area. It combines Thai Lanna architecture with modern design elements. The area also has numerous traditional Thai street food vendors and street performers.

One Nimman is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Day 3

We spent our last day in Chiang Mai visiting temples outside the city. My wife and I hired a driver recommended by a local friend, and it all worked out perfectly.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

We started the day by visiting another famous Chiang Mai temple, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, commonly called Doi Suthep, as it is perched atop Doi Suthep hill. It is one of the most revered Buddhist temples in all of Thailand.

Although it is not known precisely when it was built, the first chedi is said to have been built in the late 13th century by King Keu Naone of the Lanna Kingdom.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep has a large golden chedi at the center of the temple surrounded by several Buddha statues of varying sizes. There are also a series of pavilions and chapels, with inner courtyards featuring even more Buddha statues.

What I found most interesting was the large number of unique Buddha statues made from different materials and in various shapes, sizes, and poses.

Several chapels housed even more Buddha statues and intricate artworks on the walls and ceilings.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. There is an admission charge of ฿50 ($1.50) to enter Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.

It is a decent hike of more than 300 very steep steps to the temple’s entrance. We also took an electric tram that costs ฿50 ($1.50) for foreigners.

Wat Pha Lat

Next, we drove to Wat Pha Lat, a temple hidden deep in the forest, halfway between Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and Chiang Mai.

Wat Pha Lat also has a fascinating history. It is said that the temple was built by King Kuena in 1355 when his white elephant stopped to take a break and rest at the future site of Wat Pha Lat. The elephant eventually died at the future site of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. 

Over the centuries, Wat Pha Lat became a place for monks making the pilgrimage from Chiang Mai to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep to rest and meditate. The first hall featured a large, white, seated Buddha in the enlightenment pose.

The temple stood out from others because it seemed to have been overtaken by the jungle. Hundreds of trees surrounded the numerous chedis, halls, and statues, demonstrating that nature is an integral part of the temple.

Several other halls contained more Buddha statues with silk robes draped over their left shoulders.

Although we drove to Wat Pha Lat, there is another way to reach the temple: hiking the Monk’s Trail, a 1 1/4-mile hike from Chiang Mai.

Wat Phrathat Doi Kham

We then headed to the final Buddhist temple I wanted to visit the most: Wat Phrathat Doi Kham, on Doi Kham hill. The temple is referred to as the Temple of the Golden Mountain.

The temple dates back to the seventh century, making it one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Thailand and predating Chiang Mai by several centuries.

The temple also contains one of the oldest chedis in Chiang Mai, which houses ​​a sacred relic of Buddha. The chedi was damaged in 1966 after heavy rain, and during its repairs, local villagers discovered several Buddha statues inside.

Wat Phrathat Doi Kham featured several large Buddha statues, including a 17-meter (56-foot) tall white and gold seated Buddha statue, the tallest in Chiang Mai.

The temple also featured statues and images of deities and guardian spirits, including a large and unique gorilla.

At the back of the temple, there was another large Buddha statue in a reclining position.

Wat Phrathat Doi Kham is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Foreigners must pay a ฿30 ($1) admission fee to enter the temple.

Chiang Mai Chinatown

After a fantastic half day exploring several famous temples outside of Chiang Mai, we returned to the city to visit Chiang Mai Chinatown, Chiang Mai’s oldest trading quarter.

When China signed the Treaty of Peking and opened its borders in 1860, many Chinese merchants traveled to Siam (the country’s name before it was changed to Thailand). Some settled in the area and established a large Chinese community.

Although it is not nearly as large as Bangkok’s, Chiang Mai’s Chinatown still has hundreds of shops that sell jewelry, clothing, and souvenirs.

Warorot Market

While walking nearly every street and side alley in Chiang Mai Chinatown, we accidentally stumbled upon the massive indoor Warorot Market. The 3-floor market featured stalls and small shops selling flowers, produce, clothing, and household goods.

There was also an entire section dedicated to dried fruits and nuts. We ended up getting several sealed bags of dried mango.

What We Ate in Chiang Mai

Thailand is widely regarded as one of the best food countries in the world. However, the country has a diverse cuisine. Chiang Mai is known for its distinct Northern Thai cuisine, which features more pronounced influences from China and Myanmar.

Unlike most of the country, Northern Thai cuisine uses sticky rice instead of long-grain rice. It also uses a lot more turmeric and ginger, resulting in milder flavors overall.

If you’re not sure where to start, consider booking a Chiang Mai food tour.

Khao Soi

Khao soi is a flavorful coconut milk-based noodle soup often served with crispy fried noodles, green onions, pickled cabbage, and lime slices. It is a popular street food found at many stalls in the city.

Sai Oua

Sau oua is a Northern Thai sausage made with minced meat, herbs, and spices. It is known for its different flavors, is very meaty and rich, and uses various herbs and spices.

Gaeng Hang Lay

Gaeng hang lay is a Burmese-style, tamarind-based curry often made with pork and potatoes. However, in Northern Thailand, it is typically cooked with less oil, resulting in a thinner curry.

Final Thoughts

Chiang Mai is an incredible city with a fascinating history. Although “temple fatigue” is real across Southeast Asia, I did not experience any of it in Chiang Mai.

Many of the city’s historic Buddhist temples are unique and among the best I have seen anywhere. As someone who loves photography, I enjoy going to Buddhist temples, as you never really know which unique Buddha statues you can find.

This was my first visit to Chiang Mai, and the city blew me away. I cannot wait to return to Northern Thailand to see more rural parts of the country. Rest assured, I will make another stop in Chiang Mai.