Attraction
Wat Chedi Luang
Old City temple built around a vast 15th-century brick chedi that once held the Emerald Buddha and still shelters Chiang Mai's city pillar.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Hilltop Lanna temple about 15 km from the city, with a gilded 24-metre chedi, a long naga staircase and wide views over Chiang Mai.
At a glance
- Type
- Buddhist temple
- Area
- Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Good to know
- Funicular
- Naga staircase
- Viewpoint
Why we recommend it
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep sits on the mountain of the same name, roughly 15 kilometres from the city and a little over 1,000 metres above sea level. It is the temple most people in Chiang Mai point to first, and on a clear day you can see why: the terrace looks straight down over the city spread across the valley floor.
The usual founding date given is 1383, when the first stupa was raised, although accounts differ. The legend is a good one. A monk named Sumanathera brought a relic believed to be a shoulder bone of the Buddha to the Lanna court. It split in two; one part went to Wat Suan Dok in the city, and the other was placed on a white elephant that was released into the forest. The elephant climbed the mountain, trumpeted three times and died, and the king took this as the sign to build here. A white elephant statue at the entrance remembers the story.
The heart of the complex is the gold-plated chedi, about 24 metres tall, surrounded by a cloister of Buddha images, bells, shrines and small pavilions. You will also find a model of the Emerald Buddha, a statue of Ganesh and a small museum. Before you reach any of that, though, there is the staircase: 309 steps from the car park, flanked by what is often described as the longest naga balustrade in Thailand. If the climb does not appeal, a funicular runs up from the car park and also provides step-free access with ramps.
This is an active place of worship, so cover shoulders and knees and take your shoes off before entering the inner terrace. Go early in the morning if you can; the light is softer, it is cooler, and you beat most of the tour groups. Allow around two hours including the journey.
The road up was first built in 1935, and you can drive or take a taxi or ride-hailing car from the city. Fitter visitors sometimes walk up the forested Monk's Trail instead. Bhubing Palace, a royal residence, is a few kilometres further up the same road and makes an easy pairing.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep FAQs
Where is Wat Phra That Doi Suthep?
It stands on Doi Suthep mountain, about 15 km from Chiang Mai city, at an elevation of a little over 1,000 metres.
How many steps are there?
There are 309 steps from the car park to the temple terrace.
Is there an alternative to the stairs?
Yes. A funicular runs from the car park and gives wheelchair users access, with some steep ramps.
What is the temple famous for?
Its gold-plated chedi, around 24 metres tall, and the white elephant legend of its founding.
Is there a dress code?
Yes. It is an active temple, so cover shoulders and knees and remove shoes where signs ask.
Can you walk up from the city?
Yes, some visitors hike the forested Monk's Trail, but most go by car, taxi or ride-hailing app.
How long should I allow?
Around two hours including the drive, longer if you add Bhubing Palace further up the mountain.
When is the best time to go?
Early morning is cooler and quieter, before most tour groups arrive.