Marked by the presence royal ashes, Wat Suan Dok was established in the 14th century on the grounds of a royal garden. Its tranquil exterior belies over six centuries of sacred history. Whitewashed chedis catch the northern Thai sunlight, standing as symbols of devotion, mortality and remembrance. Surrounding the central chedi, royal mausoleums enshrine Chiang Mai’s rulers, underscoring the temple’s role as a spiritual bridge between the living and the departed.

Radiant in white and adorned with shimmering mirrors, the White Temple embodies the journey toward spiritual purity and enlightenment. Its gleaming surfaces symbolise Buddha’s divine wisdom, while the mirrored mosaics reflect the light of truth that dispels ignorance. Conceived as a visual meditation on the path to nirvana, Wat Rong Khun invites reflection on the struggle between temptation and purity that lies at the heart of the human experience.