After I came back from Chiangmai trip – 9 temples, 2 weeks later, I was still missing the aura of Thai northern style culture. And, I would have the business on every weekend for 4 months soon. It caused me unable to have the trip for long. Thus, I decided to spent my last weekend before long term undertaking to visit Chiangrai. As I had only a day, the mission was similar to Chiangmai trip, visiting 9 temples in Chiangrai city.
The trip was started on Friday night, I caught the night bus from Bangkok – Mochit Bus Station on 8.30PM by Bangkok Bus Line, The bus was arrived Chiangrai Bus Terminal – 2 at 8AM in the next day. Upon I arrived, I hopped the motorbike taxi from Bus Terminal to Jet Cod Road (Thai : ถนนเจ็ดยอด) which is 6 km away to find the scooter rental shop. I found one small shop name ParnTrek. The owner was very friendly and offered me only 250 THB/day. I did not hesitate to deal with him. After I signed the contract and pay the deposit, the scooter was mine. It was time to begin my mission !
At that time, it was about 9AM, the first temple of the day was the iconic of Chiangrai where every vision MUST see this temple, Wat Rong Khun or The White Temple (Thai : วัดร่องขุ่น). This temple is 13 km away from city center, it took 20 minutes by scooter.
Wat Rong Khun was designed and constructed by Chalermchai Kositpipat, a National Artist, who wished the temple to be like a heavenly paradise, a paradise on earth that humans can touch. The construction was begun in 1997 with Lanna art. It is also known as The White Temple because the main hall and other buildings are painted white and decorated with mirrors. The white symbolizes the purity of the Buddha, and the mirrors symbolize the wisdom of the Buddha that shines throughout the human world and the universe. Nowadays, this temple is the landmark of Chiangrai where the visitor cannot miss. Wat Rong Khun is open daily, 8AM – 5PM. The entrance fee for the foreigner was 100 THB/person (3.25 USD). The visitor can take the photo or video at everywhere in the temple, except inside the ordination hall.
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I was strolling around Wat Rong Khun until 10AM. Actually, I visited this temple more than 4 times. But every time I visited, I could see the different. Because the artists and architects were working all the time according to the wills of Chalermchai Kositpipat that he wants to unstoppable develop this temple until the end of his life. The brave heart man !
Next, from Wat Rong Khun, I hopped on my beloved scooter to another landmark of Chiangrai, Wat Rong Suea Ten or The Blue Temple (Thai : วัดร่องเสือเต้น) which is 17 km away. it took about 20 minutes to get there.
Wat Rong Suea Ten is a Temple that was restored by Mr.Phutta Kabkaew, a Local artist of Chiangrai and a student of Chalermchai Kositpipat. The construction of this temple was started in 2005 and completed in 2016. It is known for its striking modern artistic design. The temple is unusually beautiful with its unique applied arts by using a shade of blue and architectural beauty from a stucco artist. The ordination hall is uniquely designed by using the murals depicting the story of the Buddha’s life and enshrined with the Buddha image, Phra Phuttha Ratchamongkhon Bodi Trailok Nak (6.5 metres tall and has a lap width of 5 metres). Wat Rong Suea Ten is open daily, 7AM – 8PM with no entrance fee.
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Wat Rong Suea Ten gave me the different feeling than Wat Rong Khun. It used the blue theme to present the massiveness of the Buddhist. Differently, Wat Rong Khun use the white color to identify the pureness. But both temples are having the beautifulness of Thai-Lanna Style Art. I spent time at Wat Rong Suea Ten until 11AM before heading back to the city center to complete my mission with the rest 7 temples (All remaining 7 temples are located in city center). The next destination what is the third place of the day was Wat Klang Wiang (Thai : วัดกลางเวียง). it is 3 km from Wat Rong Suea Ten.
Wat Klang Wiang is one of the most ornate temples in Chiang Rai. The word “Klang Wiang” means “City Center”. It was built in 1432. The city pillar shrine of Chiangrai is located in this temple. The ordination hall is protected by Naga snakes and Singha lions. Inside is a large seated Buddha in vibrant gold with several smaller idols around the principal deity. The pagoda in the temple has three levels with enshrined Buddha idols along the spire and sculpted elephants around the base. Wat Klang Wiang is open daily 6AM – 5PM without entrance fee.
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Wat Klang Wiang is just small temple. I just sent 15 minutes there to stroll around and prayed respect to the Buddha image in the ordination hall. Then, I moved to another temple which is fourth temple, Wat Phra Singh (Thai : วัดพระสิงห์). It is just 500 m away.
Wat Phra Singh is the Lanna style Buddhist temple which is located near to the town hall. It was unclear about who first built the temple. This temple used to house a major Buddha statue, the Phra Buddha Sihing which is now enshrined in Chiangmai. The ordination hall has the wooden door panels carved by Chiangrai contemporary craftsmen. It also has a replica of the Buddha’s footprint on a stone slab that was assumed it was built during the reign of King Mengrai the Great. There is a door that was designed by Thawan Duchanee, a National Artist in Visual Arts (Painting). Wat Phra Singh is open daily, 6AM – 6PM with no admission fee.
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I spent my time to admire the Lanna architecture of Wat Phra Singh until 11AM. Then, I bade farewell to the historic temple and continued to the fifth temple, Wat Ming Meuang (Thai : วัดมิ่งเมือง). It is 700 m away, near to New Chiangrai Clock Tower.
Wat Ming Meuang was constructed since the establishment of Chiang Rai in 1427 by mixture of Tai Yai and Lanna art. It has wooden image hall what the visitors should not miss. In the image hall houses, it has beautiful Buddha image, called Luang Pho Phra Si Ming Mueang. It is 80 inches of width with its lap and is over 400 years old. The wall of the temple is painted white, while its arched entrance is painted red, attracting those who walk or drive pass. Wat Ming Meuang is open daily, 8AM – 4.30PM with no entrance fee.
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About noon, I left Wat Ming Meuang to find some local food for lunch and took a break for iced-coffee as the sunlight during afternoon was so strong. I need sometime to break and recharge my energy before continue my exploration.
At 2PM, my mission was continued to the sixth temple of the day, Wat Phra Kaew (Thai : วัดพระแก้ว) which is only 1 km away from Wat Ming Meuang.
Wat Phra Kaew is the temple where the Emerald Buddha was discovered in 1434. It is one of the oldest and most revered Buddhist temples in Chiangrai. Within the area of the temple, there is also “Hong Luang Saeng Kaew”, a two-storey building made of reinforced concrete covered by teak inside and outside in the applied Lanna style. It also has a museum displaying important Buddha images of the temple, e.g., Phrachao Thanchai, Phra Prot Lok, and Phra Phuttha Si Chiang Rai, as well as showing art and culture about Buddhism in a modern form. Wat Phra Kaew is open daily, 7AM – 6PM. It has no entrance fee for the visitors.
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Wat Phra Kaew is the one of the most interesting temple in Chiangrai because of it has long history what is related to the history of Bangkok and Thailand. It can make the one who hate history subject like me has changed my mind. About 2.30PM, I rode my scooter on the street beside Wat Phra Kaew to the climb to the small hill to another temple, Wat Doi Ngam Mueang (Thai : วัดดอยงำเมือง) which is seventh temple of the day.
Wat Doi Ngam Mueang was built by King Chaiso ngkram to contain the remains of his father (King Mengrai) in the stupa in 1489. The temple has stairway flanked by Naga serpents. The ordination hall’s facade and entrance door are beautifully decorated with intricate wood carvings depicting Lanna style motifs and Thewada figures. Inside the hall, it has a large Buddha image in the subduing Mara posture on a pedestal surrounded by smaller images. The large pillars are decorated with flower motifs. Wat Doi Ngam Mueang is open daily, 6AM – 5PM with free admission.
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I spent only 15 minutes at Wat Doi Ngam Mueang by admiring the statue of King Meng Rai, stupa and praying respect to the Buddha image in ordination hall. Next, I moved to eighth temple, Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong (Thai : วัดพระธาตุดอยจอมทอง) which is 800 m away. Please be careful…the street is slope and curvy.
Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong is one of the oldest Temples in Chiangrai. Legend says that this Temple dated before the exsistance of Chingrai which established in 1272 according to Phraya Prachakorn Jak lore. This temple has the pagoda what is made from gold and stands majestically at the middle of the temple at 14 metres high. A closer look at this pagoda reveals a delicate blend of Burmese architecture and Lanna styles. From this temple, visitor can walk up to the City Navel which is composed of a navy pillar and 108 other pillars. Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong is open daily, 6AM – 5PM with free admission.
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At 3.15PM, after I took a look around Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong, I continued my trip to finish my mission at ninth temple of this trip, Wat Jed Yod (Thai : วัดเจ็ดยอด) what is 2.5 km away. This temple is located just in front of the bike rental shop where I just rented the scooter this morning.
Wat Jed Yod was constructed in 1844 with simplistic Lanna architecture sbut was only completed a century later. The interior of the temple is different as it is mainly decorated in red and silver instead of the usual red and gold of most temples in Thailand. The word “Jed Yod” means “Seven Peaks” as this temple has 7-peaks pagoda. Inside the ordination hall, it has beautiful murals depicting stories from the Jataka, the collection of tales about Buddha’s previous births. Wat Jed Yod is open daily, 6AM – 6PM with no entrance fee.
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About 4PM, the sunlight was weakening as the time as I completed by 9-temples mission in Chiangrai. I was feeling fulfilled again as my small target has been accomplished again. I went to the hotel what I already booked in advance, B2 Night Bazaar Chiangrai Hotel. It is the budget hotel located near to the city center, only 800 metres from Chiangrai Night Bazaar. After checked-in, I rested for a while and got refreshed. Even it was the exhasuted day, but I still had more one thing I would like to do as same as everytime I visited this city, Praying the respect to The monument of King Meng Rai at the night time. Indeed, this activity can be performed anytime. But I prefer the night time because I love to see the the statue with decorations under the spotlight. It makes me feel I am immersing to the real Lanna style and it recall my rememberance since I first met this statue.
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Furthermore, Chiangrai also has the activities during the night time like walking street on every Saturday or strolling at Chiangrai night bazaar what is open everyday. Fortunately, it was saturday, I could enjoy eating and sightseeing at both places !
Honestly, it was one tired day in my life, but I felt happy as I was able to archieve my little goal again. Coming back to Chiangrai recalled my good memory in the deepest part of my mind. Chiangrai made me feel relaxed and escaping me to the wonderland every time I have been here, So, if you are looking for the touchable happiness, Chiangrai must be one of your bucket list.
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Written by : Shipy Siwarit Tiasuwattiseth
Shipy-Ship 