Wat Palad (or Pha Lat), also known as Wat Sakithaka, is arguably the most beautiful forest temple in Chiang Mai province. It's located just outside the city on Doi Suthep mountain. Many tourists visiting Wat Phra That Doi Suthep miss it and simply drive past. I highly recommend you don't! Nestled in the heart of the forest, the temple is a beautiful oasis of tranquility, set within a garden filled with gorgeous statues, lovingly crafted details, and even a small waterfall (which dries up during the hot season). It's one of my absolute favorite temples in Chiang Mai! The easiest way to reach Wat Palad is by taking one of Chiang Mai's famous red taxis, which travel up and down Doi Suthep, stopping along the way (I recommend visiting this temple after Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, as it's much quieter and cooler then). Just tell the driver "Wat Palad." Once you arrive at the side of the road, you'll see two small shrines. To reach the forest section of the temple, take the path to the right of the building with the White Buddha (or the road to the left if you are traveling by car or scooter). After your visit, you will need to walk back up to the main road and take a red taxi to return to Chiang Mai.

Entry is free. There also seems to be a hiking trail in the mountain behind the Chiang Mai Zoo that leads to Wat Palad, but I haven't tried it (yet).

To reach Wat Phalad, you can follow the same directions as for Doi Suthep Temple and turn off at the road near the temple. However, I recommend combining the two visits and seeing Wat Phalat by descending from Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. For the more adventurous, there is also a rather beautiful mountain path, the so-called Monk's Path, which starts behind Chiang Mai University and Zoo and leads up to Wat Phalad. The climb takes about 45 minutes.

Wat Palad is a temple, and when visiting a temple in Thailand there are some rules to follow: appropriate clothing (knees and shoulders should be covered), remove 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 Palad? To get to Wat Palad, you can follow the same directions as for Doi Suthep Temple and turn off at the temple on the road. However, I recommend combining the two visits and visiting Wat Pha Lat by descending from Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. For the more adventurous, there is also a rather beautiful mountain path, the so-called Monk's Path, which starts behind Chiang Mai University and Zoo and leads to Wat Pha Lat. The climb to the temple takes about 45 minutes.