Located on Doi Suthep Road near the near the old wall of Chiang Mai, Wat Suan Dok is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in the city. In Thai, the meaning of Wat Suan Dok is The “flower garden temple”. The name of the temple derived from the site where it is situated today. The current site of the temple was a Royal flower garden in the past and it was used by the king of Chiang Mai. It is a very old temple which was built in the second half of the fourteenth century. It consists of numerous white chedis including the main chedi which is gilded with gold leaf and an open-air wiharn.
Wat Suan Dok in Chiang Mai
Posted on: 19th February 2016
Highlights of Wat Suan Dok
The Temple of Wat Suan Dok was built by the Lanna King for a monk from Sukhothai, as his residence for his retirement. Among all its chedis, the golden chedi is the tallest which is 48 meters high and built in Sri Lankan Style. Some important Buddha relics are housed in the Golden Chedi and other smaller chedis are containing the ashes of royal family members of many generations. The white chedis of Wat Suan Dok are clearly visible from the main street. The main attraction of the temple is the 4.7 meters tall statue of Buddha which is situated in the ordination hall. People interested in Buddhism or want to learn about meditation techniques can participate in the Monk Chat or Meditation Retreat Workshop.
Important Information
The Wat Suan Dok is located just 1 km from the city center and can be easily accessed by tuk tuk. Tourists who need more freedom and comfort while moving around Chiang Mai can book a rental car. The temple is open daily from 6 am to 5 pm and admission is free of cost. For more information about Monk Chat and Meditation Retreat Workshop, visit this website: www.monkchat.net