A city of temples
Gilded Lanna halls.
Bro. Jeffrey Pioquinto, SJ from Dublin, Ireland, Philippines — CC BY 2.0 · FredTC — CC BY-SA 4.0 · FredTC — CC BY-SA 4.0 · FredTC — CC BY-SA 4.0 · FredTC — CC BY-SA 4.0
An astonishing modern temple complex on a hill in the countryside of Mae Taeng north of Chiang Mai, officially Wat Den Sali Si Mueang Kaen; its abbot began building it in the 1980s and it is still growing today. Gilded timber halls in northern Lanna style with tiered blue and gold roofs and giant mythical statues make it feel like a whole city of temples. At the centre of the court stands a large stupa ringed by twelve smaller black and white stupas, each with one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, so Thais look for the stupa of their birth year to pray. A side hall holds a large reclining Buddha, and the timber halls carry fine carving and painting. It is far calmer than Chiang Rai's White Temple, for all its beauty. Entry is free and donations are welcome. Modest dress is expected: shoulders and knees covered, and shoes off inside the halls. The court is wide and exposed, so come in the morning or late afternoon and bring water. It is about an hour by car from Chiang Mai and can be combined with a trip to Mae Taeng or Chiang Dao the same day.
Gilded Lanna halls.
Twelve around the centre.
Without the crowds.
Mae Taeng district, about 45 km north of Chiang Mai town
Twelve small stupas, each with a Chinese zodiac animal; Thais pray at the one for their birth year.