Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
You can’t say that you’ve been to Chiang Mai if you didn’t take the time to visit Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. This stunning Buddhist temple can be seen from almost anywhere you happen to be in the city because of its location on the top of Doi Suthep.
The temple was built in the 19th century B.E. (Buddhist Era) under King Geu Na, the 6th ruler of the Mengrai Dynasty, and attracts many pilgrims and tourists, both local and international, throughout the year.
Overlooking Chiang Mai at 1,053 meters above sea level, the temple is best visited on days with clear skies; the view of the city and the Ping valley is breathtaking. The temple lies about 10 kilometers from the city, and can be reached by road. Once at the car park area, you have two choices to get to the holy shrine; 1) on foot, if you are fit enough to climb the 300 or so steps of the Naga staircase, or 2) by the small cable car (you will have to pay a small fee).
The site of the temple was chosen in a most unusual way. Legend has it that King Geu Na ordered that a relic of the holy Buddha be strapped to the back of a sacred white elephant, and let the beast wander until it stopped to rest. Wherever it stopped would be location of the temple. After making its way up the mountainside to the summit, the elephant finally stopped, trumpeted its last breath, and fell dead to the ground. The king then ordered that a golden pagoda be built where the elephant lay, and the Buddha relic to be housed therein. Visitors who climb the stairs will find a memorial to the sacred white elephant to their left once at the top.
