Sunday, January 4, 2015 – Up the Mountain to Wat Palad Part 1, Wat Fai Hin

Wat Palad is one of my favorite temples, but not easily accessible. I discovered it two years ago and found it to be very peaceful, quiet, and very, very few tourists go to Wat Palad. It is a temple essentially in the jungle, just off the main highway to the very popular and important Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. 

(Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is often called the Doi Suthep temple by tourists, The word “doi” is mountain, and “Suthep” is the name of the mountain. So the name is really Wat Phra That located on Doi Suthep.) 

Hundreds of tourists and Thai people go up the highway to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep every day (yes, hundreds, maybe even a few thousand). Only a small handful, perhaps a dozen or less stop at Wat Palad. Their loss, but good for me and others who like the peacefulness of Wat Palad. When I discovered Wat Palad, I found it a good place to sit for a meditation, as it is in the jungle, and the only noise are the natural jungle noises, birds, insects, the creek and waterfall, no highway or traffic noise at all.

Two years ago it was suggested that I go to the local meditation group, the Green Papaya Sangha. At the start, they announced that they practice meditation in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. I had never heard of Thich Nhat Hanh, but sat with the group anyway to learn a little about meditation. Upon returning home, I learned that Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese Buddhist monk who was nominated for the 1967 Nobel Peace Prize by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and I found that many, many people in the yoga community know of him, and have read his books. Thich Nhat Hanh was advocating mindfulness back in the 1960s. Last year, I visited Wat Palad several times, and at the very end of my stay in Chiang Mai, I learned that Thich Nhat Hanh lived at Wat Palad for several years in the 1970s. So it is no wonder Wat Palad has such good energy for meditation. Thich Nhat Hanh now lives in Plum Village, France. I also learned that there is a hiking trail from Chiang Mai University to Wat Palad – that would make Wat Palad more accessible.

Wat Fai Hin

I learned that last December, the Plum Village Thailand group had a retreat in Chiang Mai, and in the program was a silent walking meditation from Wat Fai Hin to Wat Palad. My guess is that Wat Fai Hin, being right by Chiang Mai University, is near or where the hiking trail to Wat Palad starts. The people in the Green Papaya Sangha had agreed to show me the hiking trail, but were busy until next week, so I decided to visit Wat Fai Hin myself just to check it out.

Wat Fai Hin is a small temple, right by the sprawling Chiang Mai University campus. There is not too much to see, This viharn (worship hall) has very ornate naga on the stairway banisters.

There is also a pavilion with a stone depiction of the Buddha’s footprint. I could not get a better angle for the photograph because the floor was being cleaned. Perhaps another time.

Not too much to see. I joined the driver, and we pushed on up the mountain to Wat Palad.

Next: Up the Mountain to Wat Palad Part 2, Wat Palad itself