Wat Phra Singh

Wat Phra Singh stands at the western end of the Old City, inside the moat and walls, and is one of the most important temples in northern Thailand. It was founded in 1345 by King Phayu, the fifth ruler of the Lanna kingdom's Mangrai dynasty, to hold the ashes of his father, and was first known as Wat Lee Chiang Phra. Its current name dates from around 1400, when the revered Phra Buddha Sihing image was brought here.

Like much of Chiang Mai, the temple suffered during the long period of Burmese rule from 1558, and the city itself was largely abandoned until the 1790s. Restoration began under King Kawila in the late 18th century, and the influential monk Khruba Siwichai led further renovation in the early 1920s. In 1935 it was raised to the status of a royal temple of the first grade.

The building most visitors come for is the Viharn Lai Kham, a small hall built between 1815 and 1821. It houses the Phra Buddha Sihing and is decorated with gold leaf and lacquer work on its walls and pillars, but the real interest is the murals. Painted in natural pigments, they illustrate the stories of Sang Thong and Suwannahong, and they are the main reason to step inside. Take time to look at the details rather than walking straight through. Elsewhere in the compound you will find the large main wihan, the chedi and the Ho Trai, the temple library.

The temple suits anyone interested in Lanna art, and it is less overwhelming than some of the bigger sites. Dress respectfully with shoulders and knees covered, take your shoes off at the door, and keep voices low inside the halls, where people come to pray. Photography rules can differ between buildings, so look for signs.

Allow 45 minutes to an hour. Wat Phra Singh sits at the top of Ratchadamnoen Road, so it is a natural start or end point for a walk east along that street to Wat Chedi Luang and Tha Phae Gate. The Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre is also within walking distance.