A Must VIsit: Our Top 3 Chiang Mai Temples

Chiang Mai, my ABSOLUTE favorite city Lawrence and I had the pleasure of visiting during our three-month stint in Thailand. While some travelers love the big-city life in Bangkok, I truly preferred the pace of Northern Thailand. With the slowed-down nature of this city, there’s no doubt that you’ll have plenty of time to check out one of the 117 Buddhist temple options. 

But temple burnout is a real thing, so we’ve come today to give you our top 3 choices when the temple burnout is just too much to bear. 

Overall:

How we got around: We rented our motorbike during our time in Chiang Mai which we highly recommend you do. The motorbike is the most widely used form of transportation here and it is very easy to see why. They are affordable, fast, easy to park, and have a host of other benefits. 
We rented our bikes here. The service was excellent, fast, and reliable. There was no “funny business” and the process for rental was streamlined and efficient. 

Food Recommendation: You can’t have a blog post without a food recommendation, right? Our selection for what we deemed “Temple Day” was Free Bird Cafe. Definitely vegan and definitely delicious! You have to get the Samosas.

NOTE: This should go without saying, but when visiting temples be sure to cover yourselves respectfully. 

Okay, let’s get to it.

Temple 1: Wat Chiang Man

It would not be right if we did not start at the oldest temple in Chaing Mai. Wat Chiang Man is said to be built around 1296 by King Mengrai, who is the founder of Chiang Mai. This temple was adorned with beautiful clay and gold relics and monks that were meditating on the holy grounds. A beautiful experience that shouldn’t be missed.

Temple 2: Wat Chedi Luang

Built-in the 14th century as a memorial to the king’s father. The infamous Reclining Buddha that is now housed in Bangkok used to be here at Wat Chedi Luang. No women are allowed in this temple due to menstruation. It is believed that it ruins the sanctity of the city pillar. 

Temple 3: Wat Sri Suphan

Why would you visit this temple? Just take a look….

When you finally make your way to Chiang Mai, make sure you stop by these 3 temples. You’ll get your history, beautiful relics, and a host more.