What Phra Singh is the third temple we will visit, as we take a tour along Chiang Mai’s most exciting temples.
This is the 3rd part of a 7-post series: The Temples of Chiang Mai. If you missed the first two posts, you can check them out here:
Now let's continue our journey and visit Wat Phra Singh.
Will You Join Me?
Wat Pra Singh
Like Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh is situated within the city walls and the moat, in Chiang Mai’s old city center.
Wat Phra Singh was founded in 1345.
Its name is derived from Phra Buddha Sihing, which is an important Buddha statue.
According to sources that we can’t impossible factcheck nowadays, the statue came to Chiang Rai from Sri Lanka and was based on a similar statue – now lost – in the Mahabodhi Temple of Bodh Gayaa, in India.
It is obvious that this is a prosperous temple.
You can find beautifully decorated walls...
...as well as gilded naga (serpents) on the temple grounds.
The grass is lush and green, and the temple is often full of visitors because it is popular with tourist and locals. As I continued, I came across a few dogs, playing in the grass.
One of the temple buildings houses a number of wax monks, in meditation position.
I’m not sure if these figures represent actual monks that once served in this temple.
But I’d like to to think they are, and that they serve as a reminder to visitors and monks alike of the example they set during their life.
There are lots of trees on the temple grounds.
As I walked around, in silence, I noticed that some trees had proverbs and sayings pinned on them, like:
Today is Better Than Tomorrow
There is More Happiness in Giving Than in Taking
Virtue is More Valuable Than a University Degree
There’s a smaller building in the back that houses a reclining Buddha.
According to the tradition, this is the position in which Buddha spent his last moments before he passed away.
Not as big as the one in War Pho in Bangkok – which is massive – but still impressive.
Since this is a Buddhist temple, there are Buddha statues everywhere.
Some are still even wrapped in plastic…
As if to challenge the idea that everything is impermanent, one of Buddha’s main teachings. I imagined that someone thought: ”Perhaps if we keep the statue wrapped in plastic, it will not deteriorate because it does not come into contact with the elements”
Wat Phra Singh is well worth the visit if you traveling to Chiang Mai.
Short on time? Don’t worry! This is the perfect temple to combine with a visit to famous Sunday Night Market, because the temple is located right at the west end of this market.
Have You Ever Visited a Temple in Thailand?
Let me Know in the Comments!
This post is part of the Temples of Chiang Mai-series, in which we visit the following temples:
- Wat Chedi Luang
- Wat Suan Dok
- Wat Phra Singh
- Wat Pha Lat
- Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep
- Wat Umong
- Wat Phra That Doi Kham
In the next post, we will visit Wat Pha Lat!
Credit: all images are my own.