Wat Phan Tao is one of Chiang Mai’s lesser known yet historically rich temples, quietly nestled in the heart of the city’s ancient walled quarter. Located just beside the more prominent Wat Chedi Luang, it often sits in its shadow, both figuratively and literally, but offers a tranquil, deeply atmospheric contrast. The temple dates back to the 14th century, during the reign of the Mangrai Dynasty and originally served not as a grand site of worship but as the residence for mo

Commissioned during the reign of King Saen Muangma in the twilight of the 14th century, this ancient royal monastery is one of Chiang Mai’s most hallowed temples. It was conceived not merely as a place of worship, but as a towering tribute, a sacred reliquary meant to enshrine the ashes of the king’s father, the revered King Ku Na. The centrepiece was to be a monumental stupa, ambitiously imagined to rise “as high as a dove could fly.” But fate intervened.