Located in the northeast corner of town, this temple was built during the reign of King Anantayot and at one stage housed the Emerald Buddha (now residing in Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok).
Its main point of interest is a Burmese-style mondop with beautiful inlaid glass mosaics in the ceilings and multiple stacked roofs of gold, which stands in front of a huge white-washed and gold-capped stupa. Behind the stupa, a statue of an elephant carrying the precious Emerald Buddha stands next to a plaque recounting the tale. In early 2012, a new entrance to the north of the temple was built, leading up a naga stairway over a pond.
Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao is a popular stop on most horse carriage tours but to walk here is a pleasant way of arriving (if you don’t get lost in the crooked streets) as the streets are tree-lined and fairly quiet. Within the temple grounds is a small museum containing a minor collection of exhibits.
Need to Know
- What is it? A temple and the original home of the Emerald Buddha.
- Opening hours: 06:00 to 18:00, daily.
- Entrance fees: 20B
- Address: Phra Kaew Road
- Where: northeast of Lampang city center on Phra Kaew Road.
- How to get there: access the temple by crossing the Ratchada Bridge northwards.