Wat Suan Dok: A cemetery temple with a garden theme.
It was once overlooked by many people who came to Chiang Mai to play, but those who have been here cannot forget it.
Under the sunlight, it's so bright that it hurts the eyes; as the sun sets in the west, it's as beautiful as a palace in the sky. Coming out of the west gate of the ancient city and walking along the bustling Suthep Road for about a kilometer, you can easily find Wat Suan Dok.
This place is worth spending a whole time on, quiet and solemn, with no connection to all the hustle and bustle of the outside world.
However, the most eye-catching thing is not the magnificent temples and golden pagodas, but a large area of traditional Lanna-style cemeteries, arranged in various sizes but with a certain degree of orderliness. Under the clear blue sky, they are solemn and exquisite, making people almost afraid to approach.
The tower is not very big, but it appears somewhat dazzling in the sunlight, faintly emitting a radiance that moves the hearts of viewers with a heavy and tranquil power.
At first, this was just a beautiful garden belonging to the Wang family. The person who built it was Kue Na, a wise monarch of the Meng Lai dynasty.
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At that time, it was the early stage of the establishment of the Lanna Kingdom. Buddhism, which was popular in northern Thailand, was actually deeply influenced by Myanmar. Later, in order to reform the religious atmosphere at that time, King Kue Na invited the famous Sri Lankan monk Sumana Thera from Sukhothai to Chiang Mai and donated a part of the royal garden to build Wat Suan Dok for him and the monks.
From then on, the Buddhist center of the entire Lanna Kingdom was moved from the original capital of Haripunchai to Chiang Mai, and the orthodox Theravada Buddhism also spread from Wat Suan Dok to various parts of northern Thailand.
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And today, this shining white forest of pagodas is where the past high monks slept, standing under the blue sky, listening to the evening drums and morning bells. All of this makes you forget that it is a cemetery and instead feels like a pure heavenly garden.