Wat Chiang Man is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai. It was built in 1297 on the site of Wiang Nopburi, a fortified Lawa town that King Mangrai used as a staging ground during the construction of his new capital, Chiang Mai. The oldest structure in the temple complex is a chedi called Chang Lom Chedi, or Elephant Chedi. Its square base is surrounded by 15 elephants, and its top is adorned with gold. The larger of the two viharns is a spacious building. Its Lanna-style facade is decorated with wood carvings and gold. It houses the oldest Buddha statue in Chiang Mai, a standing Buddha with an alms bowl. Wat Chiang Man contains many other very old Buddha statues. In addition to the numerous other Lanna-style buildings, the temple also has a small scriptorium called the Ho Trai.

Free admission. Open from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Wat Chiang Man is located in Chiang Mai's fortified central square, which is surrounded by moats. If your hotel is also in this area or very close by, you can easily reach Wat Phan Tao on foot or by bicycle (many hotels and guesthouses rent bicycles, and there are also several rental shops in the city; the cost is usually around 50 THB per day). Alternatively, you can hire a tuk-tuk or hop into one of the cars that operate in the city after stating your destination.

Wat Chiang Man is a temple, and when visiting a temple in Thailand there are some rules to follow: appropriate clothing (knees and shoulders should be covered), take off your shoes when entering the building, be quiet, do not hug or kiss, do not point your feet at the Buddha statue, do not smoke.

How to get there

How do I get to Wat Chiang Man? Wat Chiang Man is located in Chiang Mai's fortified central square, which is surrounded by moats. If your hotel is also in this area or very close by, you can easily reach Wat Phan Tao on foot or by bicycle (many hotels and guesthouses rent bicycles, and there are also several rental shops in the city; the cost is usually around 50 THB per day). Alternatively, you can hire a tuk-tuk or hop into one of the cars that operate in the city after stating your destination.