Wat Phrathat Doi Kham description and photos - Thailand: Chiang Mai (Topic)

Wat Phrathat Doi Kham description and photos - Thailand: Chiang Mai. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Wat Phrathat Doi Kham.

Photo and description

Wat Phrathat Doi Kham is far from the most famous among tourists, however, an extremely revered temple in Chiang Mai. The presence of the particle "phrathat" in its name means that the temple is at the top rung of the Buddhist hierarchy and is one of the main in the province.

Built in the 7th century, Wat Phrathat Doi Kham is located on the top of a mountain in the suburbs of Chiang Mai, by the way, in translation from Thai “wat doi kham” means “temple on the golden mountain”. The most ancient structure on the territory of the temple is the chedi (stupa), built back in 687. It has many similarities with another temple on the top of the Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, which is the city's trademark. From all sides, the entrance to the chedi is guarded by golden nagas (mythical snakes).

There is a legend among local residents that thousands of years ago on the site of Wat Doi Kham there lived cannibals, who were once met by the traveling Buddha Gautama. He urged the giants to abandon this lifestyle and listen to Buddhist truths. At parting, Buddha gave the cannibals a lock of his hair, which is still kept inside the ancient chedi.

On the territory of the temple, in addition to the traditional viharna (main hall), there is an open gallery with many statues of Buddhas in various poses and forms, as well as an incredibly beautiful ubosot outside (a special hall for monks).

The central figure in Wat Phrathat Doi Kham is the 17-meter high Buddha statue, located on the top of the hill. The temple courtyard also houses a collection of bells and gongs.

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Topic: Wat Phrathat Doi Kham description and photos - Thailand: Chiang Mai.