Wat Phra Singh stands as one of Chiang Mai's most iconic and historically rich temples. Founded in 1345 during the reign of Lanna King Phayu, its purpose was to enshrine a famous relic of the Buddha and house the ashes of his late father, King Khamfu. Also known as the Monastery of the Lion Buddha, it is still an active religious centre, attracting hundreds of monks and novices from all over South East Asia.

The name “Surat Thani” literally means "City of Good People", a title bestowed by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) in 1915, recognizing the piousness of its residents. But its roots dig even deeper, this area was once part of the mighty Srivijaya Empire, a Buddhist thalassocratic (sea-based) kingdom that thrived from the 7th to the 13th century. You can still sense its grandeur in ruins like the Wiang Sa and Chaiya districts, which hold relics of that once-glorious empire.

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

The Blue Temple, also known as Wat Rong Suea Ten, is a striking Buddhist temple, renowned for its stunning blue and gold color scheme. Built in 2005 on the site of an ancient abandoned shrine, it is a relatively new addition to Chiang Rai’s historical landscape and was funded by a local artist named Phuttha Kabkaew, who had a strong vision of fusing the beauty of traditional Buddhist art in the contemporary world.

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.