Like all temples named Wat Phra Kaew, this temple also housed the Emerald Buddha, which now resides in Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok. It was its first location and remained there for 32 years in the 15th century. This temple is the most interesting in Lampang. Its main entrance consists of a staircase with two nagas, a classic element of Buddhist temples. Once you have climbed the stairs, you will see on the left a statue of an elephant carrying a small pavilion containing a Buddha statue. This commemorates an event in the legend of the Emerald Buddha: The statue was discovered at the beginning of the 15th century when lightning struck the chedi of Wat Phra Kaew in Chiang Rai. After the discovery, the king of Chiang Mai sent troops with an elephant to transport the statue to Chiang Mai. However, the elephant refused to go to Chiang Mai and ended up in Lampang. The most impressive element of the temple is its 50-meter-high, partially gilded chedi, surrounded by a Buddha statue representing each day of the week. This is all that remains of the original temple. Behind the chedi is a beautiful wooden hall with an interesting roof. A reclining Buddha stands in another building. The temple also houses a small museum of Lanna art. Adjacent to Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao is Wat Suchadaram, whose surviving buildings include an unusual pagoda, in front of which are a wooden chapel and a wooden ordination hall closed to the public. There is no clear separation, but they are, in effect, two distinct temples side by side.

Entrance fee: 20 Baht, ticket office inside the temple behind the chedi. Open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Depending on where you are staying in Lampang, you can reach Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao on foot or by bicycle (some hotels and guesthouses rent bicycles). Otherwise, it is recommended to take one of the yellow songthaews (shared taxis with benches in the back) that are frequently seen on the main streets.

Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao 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 Phra Kaew Don Tao? Depending on where you are staying in Lampang, you can reach Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao on foot or by bicycle (some hotels and guesthouses rent bicycles). Otherwise, it is recommended to take one of the yellow songthaews (shared taxis with benches in the back) that are frequently seen on the main roads.