Thailand Chiang Mai: 5 temples to see outside the old city Chiang Mai, Northern Provinces, Travel to Thailand 5 (5)Not much imagination regarding the title of this new article, especially since I have already written a similar one with an evocative name, 5 Temples to See Outside Chiang Mai Old Town. However, let's call a spade a spade, since that is what I am offering you today, with the discovery of 5 other temples to visit, all located outside the old city (which paradoxically I have not yet written an article about!).All of them, except one, are temples that I have visited recently, which is why I wanted to share them with you now. The idea, as always, is to offer you interesting sites, so I always do research beforehand to find temples that stand out, either by their architecture, their location or any other valid reason. All of them here therefore have a certain interest, historical and/or visual, because otherwise, we could list hundreds of them… and it would become boring (already 5 would be too many for some!).Afterwards, it's my personal feeling, I like discovering temples, the ball is in your court, it's up to you to see if you think it's worth the trip, but at least, listing them here already allows you to learn about their existence.The 5 temples on a map Summary hide Wat Chet Yot, Phra Aram Luang Wat Lok Moli What Pa Pao Wat Ram Poeng (Tapotaram) Wat Intharawat (Wat Ton Kwen) data-mce-fragment= »1″> Wat Chet Yot, Phra Aram LuangOpening hours : Open every day from 6:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m.Entrance fees: Admission is free although donations are greatly appreciated.This is the only temple I haven't visited recently, and even then, it was quite a few years ago, hence the quality of the photos... But I had never talked about it until now, among other things because I had forgotten over time what the name of this temple was and where it was located... And to tell the truth, until not so long ago, I can't say that I had written many articles about Chiang Mai itself. Having finally found the identity of this "mysterious" temple, I told myself that this is the opportunity or never to mention it, after all, it fits rather well into this list, because it is a temple that is certainly not in the center but is not far from it either (a bit the goal of this list therefore). If you are at all familiar with Chiang Mai, Wat Chet Yot is located less than a kilometer from the Maya shopping center, itself on the road leading to the Doi Suthep.Wat Chet Yot, also called Wat Photharam Maha Vihara or referenced as Phra Aram Luang on Google Maps. It is a 15th century temple that has the particularity of having a main viharn surmounted by 7 chedis (hence the name "Chet Yot"). It is an architecture with Indian influence, but not only, because it also integrates elements specific to the Lanna style as well as Lao or Chinese. More precisely, it was a royal temple, built during the reign of King Tilokkarat, sovereign of the Lanna kingdom from 1441 to 1487. The latter sent a group of monks to the kingdom of Bagan (Myanmar) to study the architecture of the Mahabodhi temple, itself inspired by the temple of the same name, located in Bodh Gaya (northern India), where Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, attained Enlightenment (a place we had visited).The walls of the viharn are covered with sculptures and bas-reliefs, some of which are very well preserved, testifying to the fineness of the details brought to the building. A sort of tunnel allows access to the interior, which of course houses an imposing golden Buddha statue. Around the viharn, there are several classical structures such as a more modern ubosot (ordination hall), as well as another viharn, rectangular in shape.There are also three chedis, two small ones, one with an octagonal base, and a more imposing one, with a square base, the one containing the ashes of King Tilokkarat.Wat Lok MoliOpening hours : Open every day from 6:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m.Entrance fees: Free entry.Sometimes spelled Wat Lok Molee (a more "English" variant), this is one of the oldest temples in Chiang Mai, having been founded in the 14th century. It probably had the status of a royal temple, although it is located outside the central square that forms old Chiang Mai. Most of the current structures are more recent, however, with some dating back to the 16th century.This is the case of its centerpiece, an imposing square-based chedi, built in 1527. It is said to contain the ashes of several monarchs of the Mengrai dynasty, the rulers of the Lanna kingdom between the 13th and 16th centuries. Each side of the chedi has a niche housing a Buddha statuette. At the same time, a viharn was built, but only the brick base remains. The large viharn that currently stands in front of the chedi is a contemporary reconstruction.Indeed, following the invasion of the region by the Burmese, the Lanna kingdom remained tributary to their neighbor for more than two centuries (1558-1775). Its independence was finally acquired at the cost of a major war against the Burmese, leading to such destruction that Chiang Mai was completely abandoned for more than 20 years (1775-1797). Just like the city, Wat Lok Moli fell into disuse and ended up in ruins.It was not until the middle of the 20th century that the temple was renovated, while the Lanna kingdom had been an integral part of the kingdom of Thailand for only half a century. And to return to the viharn, despite its "old" appearance, with its wooden structure that clearly reflects the codes of the Lanna style, it dates from 2003. The entrance to the viharn is guarded by two Nagas (mythological serpent) and its facade is decorated with finely carved floral motifs as well as scenes illustrating the life of Buddha.Even its main entrance, a large brick structure guarded by two guardian statues, is worth a look. Overall, Wat Lok Moli is a fine example of Lanna architecture, decorative lanterns included, and just a stone's throw from the central square, so easy to access.It is generally a temple appreciated by Instagrammers and budding but personally, I must admit that it has its charm, and its proximity to the old city undoubtedly makes it an interesting temple to visit if you have an attraction to architecture and temples.What Pa PaoOpening hours : Open every day from 6:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m.Entrance fees: Free entry.Wat Pa Pao, which can be translated as the "Pao Tree Grove Temple", is also located just a stone's throw from the central square of Chiang Mai, and is even just 1 km from Wat Lok Moli. Although this is not a very old temple, its particularity lies mainly in its architecture, as it is a Burmese temple, more precisely in the Shan style. Wat Pa Pao was built in 1883 during the reign of the last king of Chiang Mai, Inthawichayanon, from which comes the name given to the summit of Thailand, the famous Doi inthanon.During the second half of the 19th century, the teak logging industry was booming in northern Thailand. Attracted by this opportunity, large numbers of Burmese workers migrated to Thailand, particularly Chiang Mai, from the Shan States in northeastern Burma and built their own places of worship.As you enter the temple courtyard, you will notice a wall with arched brick entrance doors surrounding a large chedi and a viharn, the temple's meeting hall. Unfortunately, the original wooden viharn has disappeared to make way for a cement building. The latter, however, remains in the Shan spirit, recognizable by its five-tiered roof, called Pyatthat, decorated with colorful patterns and topped with a kind of golden ceremonial umbrella called hti.The main chedi is bell-shaped, with a golden umbrella also on top. The structure is surrounded by four lion-like animals, with a head resembling a dragon, a mythological creature associated with good luck. These same creatures are also found on the sides of the small steps leading to a niche housing a Buddha statuette on the side of the stupa.It was very quiet when we passed and there are not so many examples of Shan architecture in the city, which makes it an interesting religious building.Wat Ram Poeng (Tapotaram)Opening hours : Open every day from 7:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m.Entrance fees: Free entry.For this 4th temple, we go down a little towards the southwest of Chiang Mai, not far from the airport and Wat Umong which I talked about in my previous article on the temples around Chiang Mai. We are then at the foot of the Doi Suthep mountain, a perfect place to relax in the calm of the tumult of the city, yet not so far away. And that's good, because this temple serves as a meditation center, which also welcomes foreigners, eager to learn the technique of so-called Vipassana meditation.The foundation of the temple dates back to the 26th century, according to inscriptions found on a stone, we even know the precise date, the third day of the seventh lunar month, which takes us to July 1492, XNUMX (for the curious like me, I established this date by looking at the lunar calendar here, which indicates the new moon on July 24, marking the 1st day of the 7th lunar month, however, some sources indicate 1451 as the year of foundation, so take it with a pinch of salt). If from this period, not much remains, there is however the large main chedi, which testifies to this antiquity, because although heavily renovated, is still standing after five centuries of existence. Its round base is surmounted by a series of floors, each surrounded by niches housing Buddha statuettes.According to the history of the site, the foundation of the temple is linked to a dark destiny of a member of the royal family of the Lanna kingdom, between betrayal and revenge, the real beginning of a "lakorn" (sitcom) so popular in Thailand. Indeed, avenged for the death of his father, but probably with remorse, King Phaya Yot Chiang Mai (พญายอดเชียงราย) decided to establish a monastery here to make an act of merit. And according to legend, its location was chosen after a monk attested to the presence of buried relics here. It was precisely on the site of these latter that the stupa was erected. (chedi).In front of the chedi is the main viharn, built of teak wood and surrounded by a covered walkway, framing the viharn and the chedi. Its structures are all recent since they began in 2016, the teak viharn having replaced the original building, which was also of modern construction, but with materials without added value. By returning to wood, the temple is closer to the typical architectures of Lanna.About 20 meters to the east, there is the ubosot, the ordination room, also built in teak, slightly isolated. It is accessed through a superb door surmounted by a pyramid-shaped sculpture, typical of the region. This room is devoid of side walls and houses a statue of Buddha, surprisingly carved in stone (I specify, because it is rarer and contrasts particularly with the wood and its gilding surrounding it). The site is also surrounded by a teak corridor whose parquet shines and contrasts with the gilding of the beautifully decorated doors.Little visited at the time of our visit, although the whole thing is essentially modern, the fact that they have taken up the original codes of the Lanna style makes it a spot that stands out and therefore deserves its place in my list here.Wat Intharawat (Wat Ton Kwen)Opening hours : Open every day from 6:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m.Entrance fees: Free entry.Finally, "last but not least" as our English-speaking friends would say, Wat Intharawat, still known locally as Wat Ton Kwen, is considered an exceptional example of classical Lanna architecture. It is located further south, in the Hang Dong district. The site is not far from the Royal Park Rajapruek, whose central piece of this recent park, precisely takes up the architecture of the viharn of this Wat Intharawat. In addition to the hall dedicated to prayer, the whole is composed of a U-shaped corridor, surrounding the main building as well as another pavilion, in the shape of a cross. This pavilion is the only example of a cruciform building, similar to the mondop, in the north of Thailand.Although it is not particularly old, since the construction of the viharn dates back to 1857 (at the time of Rama IV, concerning the then neighboring kingdom of Rattanakosin), with the addition of the pavilion the following year, the temple is nonetheless praised for the finesse of its finishes. The care taken in its construction leads historians to believe that it is the work of royal craftsmen. A distinction that earned it in 1989 to be named by the Association of Siamese Architects as the most remarkable piece of architecture. See that I do not select my temples lightly!Nothing is left to chance, the configuration of the place symbolizing Mount Meru (the center of the universe), here the viharn, with the gravel courtyard surrounding it, symbolizing the Srithundorn ocean. And this exterior aspect of the place has not changed since its creation, a rare fact, because many temples, when modernizing, often transform empty spaces and lawns with concrete floors (originally to avoid the inconvenience of muddy ground that would make the faithful reluctant to come and meditate at the temple during the rainy season...).To go into detail about the architecture of the viharn, it has a three-tiered roof on the front and two tiers on the back. The upper part of the building as well as the columns supporting the roof are made of wood, as is more common in northern Thailand. Inside, the walls were decorated with murals that are unfortunately mostly faded. The posts and part of the interior roof are decorated with gold patterns, and in the background, we obviously find the main statue, also gilded and classically seated.Overall, a good impression for this temple that clearly stands out, quite popular with Thais, certainly because it is stylish, but also because Wat Intharawat is regularly used as a setting in historical sitcoms. Despite this promotion, the temple remained quite quiet at the time of our visit (the pandemic still helping).Note that opposite the temple courtyard, there is a green space, dotted with several houses on stilts, one of which will probably serve as a café/restaurant by the end of the pandemic (at the time of our visit, it was closed). Did you like the article? Vote on the article Note globale 5 / 5. Number of votes: 5 No votes yet. Be the first to rate this article! Did you like the article? Follow me on social media Suggestions for visits Buddhist temple 0 0 Roman 23/02/2022
