Doi Suthep Temple

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep sits at 1,073 metres above sea level on the forested slopes of Doi Suthep mountain in Chiang Mai Province, around 15 kilometres northwest of the city centre. It is the most sacred temple in northern Thailand and one of the country's most revered pilgrimage sites. According to legend, the location was chosen in the fourteenth century after a white elephant carrying a Buddha relic climbed the mountain and circled three times before dying at the summit — a sign the monks interpreted as a divine instruction to build at that spot. The golden chedi at the heart of the complex is 22 metres tall, surrounded by gilded umbrellas and a kneeling elephant frieze. The chedi is said to enshrine a piece of bone from the left shoulder of the historical Buddha. Two naga (serpent) staircases of 306 steps each flank the main stairway leading up from the car park; a funicular cable car also connects the car park to the temple entrance for those who prefer not to climb. At the summit, the temple terrace commands panoramic views across Chiang Mai city and the valley, best appreciated in the morning before haze accumulates. Four-faced Buddha shrines, prayer bells, and elaborate wood carvings fill the grounds. Regular devotees can often be seen circumambulating the chedi three times as a merit-making ritual. Dress code is strictly enforced; sarongs are available at the entrance for 20 baht. Shared songthaew trucks depart from Chiang Mai University from early morning.