Wat Chedi Luang

It once measured 90 meters in height, but was brought crashing down in an earthquake. It has been partially restored by the Fine Arts Department and now measures about 60 meters tall. Buddha images sit in four niches of the structure and some statues remain of elephants that used to line the four sides of its base.

The main viharn has recently been renovated, so the facade is a blaze of reflections of glass mosaics in the morning sun. To the left of the entrance to the temple compound, under a towering gum tree, is another recently renovated building, which houses Chiang Mai’s City Pillar. This is the subject of an elaborate festival called Inthakin, which takes place at this temple each May.

Like Wat Phra Singh, this temple receives a constant stream of visitors so is often busy, but there are quiet corners of the large compound. There is also a ‘monk chat corner’ here (Mon-Fri, 1-6pm), where monks attempt to answer visitors’ questions about Buddhism as well as practice their English.

This is the best place in town to join the puja celebrations (in February, May and July), when the huge chedi provides an awesome backdrop for the wien tien - a candlelit parade around the chedi in which devotees re-affirm their faith.