Wat Chedi Luang is a Buddhist temple located in the heart of Chiang Mai. This temple was built on the orders of King Saen Mueang Mak, the seventh king of Mengrai Dynasty, to bury the ashes of his father. This temple is popular for being the former royal temple and housing the largest stupa in Thailand. Today, it is one of the most famous places of Buddhist worship in the northern Thailand and every year, it receives hundreds of travelers from different corners of the world. The history of Wat Chedi Luang dates back to the fourteenth century and the current temple site were originally part of three different temples: Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Ho Sukmin and Wat Tham.
Wat Chedi Luang – Temple of the Big Stupa
Posted on: 19th February 2016
History of Wat Chedi Luang
The construction of the main temple was started in 1391 and it took nearly a century to reach the height of 85 meters and a width of 44 meters. At that time, it was the largest structure in the country. In 1468, the most important statue of Buddha was the Emerald Buddha and it was housed in Wat Chedi Luang for almost 100 years. Later, it was transferred to Luang Prabang in Laos. The building of the temple was completed in 1481 but in 1545, it collapsed due to an earthquake in the reign of the King Jiraprara. The reconstruction of the temple was finished in 1928 and it welcomes visitors with two magnificent snakes (artificial) at the entrance. It is believed that these snakes are the most beautiful in northern Thailand.
Useful Information
The Wat Chedi Luang is situated in the historic center of Chiang Mai. Admission to the temple is free and it can be visited on any day between 6 am to 5 pm. To reach the historic center with an ease, book a car rental in Chiang Mai and make most out of your journey.