Chiang Mai If you have an opportunity to visit and travel around Thailand, especially during Songkran, then there are many cool places to celebrate. To best combine culture and fun, however, Chiang Mai is among the best. The temples of Chiang Mai are a must see on your itinery. Chiang Mai is a city in mountainous northern Thailand. Founded in 1296, it was capital of the independent Lanna Kingdom until 1558. Its Old City area still retains vestiges of walls and moats from its history as a cultural and religious center. It’s also home to hundreds of elaborate Buddhist temples, including 14th-century Wat Phra Singh and 15th-century Wat Chedi Luang, adorned with carved serpents.
life of the Buddha on the walls inside. In many of the wats huge mythical snake creatures called Nagas can be found protecting the temple. The oldest temples The oldest temples of Chiang Mai can be found in the old part of the city, within the city walls and moats. The oldest temple is the Wat Chiang Man located within the old walled city. This temple was the first to be built after the founding of Chiang Mai city in 1296.
The oldest remaining structures The very first temple structures were often built of wood that has not survived over the years, the oldest original structures still in existence today are usually the chedis that were built from stone. The chedis were the first temple structures to be build, and contain relics of the Buddha, Kings or important monks. The other temple structures found today in the wats of Chiang Mai have been restored many times over the centuries, and sometimes have been completely rebuilt. Naga snakes In Chiang Mai city alone, some 300 temples have been built often very richly decorated and containing beautiful mural paintings depicting scenes from the 22
WOKINGHAM LOCAL • APRIL / MAY 2022
