Wat Chiang Man (also known as Wat Chiang Mun) is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai. It was founded by King Phaya Mengrai in 1296, who lived there while the city was being built. It’s located in the northeastern corner of the old walled city, very close to Wat Lam Chang—although Wat Chiang Man is slightly larger and includes more structures within its grounds.
The Wat Chiang Man complex consists of an ordination hall (known as ubosot), two meditation halls (viharns), a chedi or stupa surrounded by elephant statues, and a library.
It is especially famous for housing two ancient and highly venerated Buddha images inside the smaller viharn: The marble Buddha, Phra Sila, and the crystal Buddha, Phra Seh-Taang Kamanee, which measures just 10 cm in height. The main viharn is no less significant, as it contains the oldest Buddha image created in the Lanna Kingdom, dating back to 1465.
We have our personal favorites, but many people consider this one of the most beautiful temples in the area. It may not be the most spectacular, but because it was the first temple built in the city, and thanks to the historical significance of the Buddha images it houses, it’s certainly worth a visit.
You can spend a long time here, either simply observing the intricate details or taking photos of the interior temple walls, which are filled with paintings and murals like these:
A curious fact: in front of the ubosot, there is a stone engraving that contains the earliest known mention of the city of Chiang Mai, dating back to 1296.
You can always visit Wat Chiang Man on your own, but it’s good to know that there’s also 3 Hour Old City and Temples Guided Walking Tour.
