Wat Chiang Man, Chiang Mai - the first Buddhist temple in the ancient city of Chiang Mai

Wat Chiang Man, also known as Wat Chang Wan, is located in Si Phong District, Chiang Mai, Thailand. The temple has a long history. It is the first Buddhist temple in the ancient city of Chiang Mai. It was built in 1297 under the personal supervision of King Mengrai, the first king of the Lanna Kingdom. The temple combines the architectural styles of Lanna and Sri Lanka and is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai. There is a small garden next to the main hall. Walking through the small garden to the back of the main hall, you can see the oldest and most representative stone elephant pagoda in Wat Chiang Man. It is a Sinhalese-style building. The entire pagoda is based on a white square and is surrounded by 15 stone elephants carved in real proportion. It looks like the elephants are carrying the sacred pagoda on their backs. Wat Chiang Man exudes a tranquil, quaint and solemn Buddhist atmosphere. Here you can admire murals about the story of King Mengrai as well as buildings in two different architectural styles. In addition, I will definitely take photos as souvenirs. Highlights of the visit 1. Murals in the main hall 2. The stone elephant pagoda behind the main hall 3. Two ancient and precious Buddha statues in the small hall Check-in spots: the area in front of the main hall, the stone elephant pagoda, and the White Dragon Hall Opening hours: 08:00~17:00 Free Transportation: 15 minutes walk from Chiang Mai Old Town Petta Gate, or 5 minutes by songthaew (fare 30 baht) or Grab #VisitTemple #Cultural Heritage #TravelChiangmai #TravelThailand