Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is One of the most famous Pagoda at Chiang Mai.

🙏 Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is a pagoda that every visitors to Chiang Mai should visit.

The history behind the pagoda is steeped in legend and is truly fascinating.

According to legend, a monk named Sumanathera from Sukhothai sought a relic of the Lord Buddha after receiving a vision in a dream; he succeeded in retrieving a collarbone relic. This relic was believed to possess the power to perform miracles.

Sumanathera presented the relic to King Dhammaraja of Sukhothai, who held a grand ceremony to venerate it. However, the relic did not manifest any miraculous powers. Consequently, the King requested that Sumana Thera continue to keep the relic in his own care.

King Kue Na, the ruler of the Lanna Kingdom at the time, heard about the relic and invited Sumana Thera to the palace to venerate it. Upon arrival, the relic miraculously multiplied into two. A small relic was enshrined in a stupa built at Wat Suan Dok in the center of Chiang Mai.

King Kue Na decided to select the ideal location for the remaining relic; he placed the sacred relic casket upon the back of a white elephant and set it free. Carrying the casket, the white elephant left the city of Chiang Mai and ascended the mountain now known as Doi Suthep.

Upon reaching the summit, the white elephant. * Circled the area three times. * Trumpeted three times. * Then, it knelt down at that very spot and passed away.

Interpreting this as a divine omen that the site was sacred and destined to enshrine the relic, the King and his officials built a stupa there and enshrined the Buddha's relic within it.

The name "Doi Suthep" is derived from the hermit Wasuthep, who had been practicing meditation on the mountain even before the stupa was built.

In the past, pilgrims faced great difficulty ascending the mountain on foot. In 1935, under the leadership of the revered Lanna monk Kruba Srivichai and with the help of volunteers, a road was constructed up the mountain, making it easily accessible for visitors today.

Later, a magnificent staircase featuring Naga (serpent) figures was built to provide access to the pagoda's terrace; there are 306 steps leading up to the platform.

The Pagoda is * A place of faith and pilgrimage for Thai Buddhists. * A site where foreign tourists can explore Chiang Mai's history, culture, and architecture. * An excellent viewpoint offering a clear, panoramic vista of Chiang Mai city from the terrace.