Wat Chiang Man is the oldest temple still standing in Chiang Mai. Founded in 1297, it was originally established by the medieval King Mengrai as a royal encampment while overseeing the construction of his new capital. As the first temple built within the city walls, Wat Chiang Man quickly became a hub for both spiritual and civic life, hosting key religious ceremonies, political gatherings and important social events at the heart of the emerging Lanna Kingdom.

Located among the narrow, winding lanes just south of Chiang Mai’s historic South Gate, Wat Sri Suphan stands as the dazzling centerpiece of the Haiya subdistrict, a historic residential area renowned for its traditional silver workshops. An inscription within the temple grounds reveals that the complex was originally built in 1501 during the reign of King Mueang Kaeo, the 11th ruler of the Lanna Kingdom’s Mangrai Dynasty.