Tuesday, January 22, 2019
A Second Hike Up Doi Suthep, Part 2

We left Wat Phalad and headed up the trail towards Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. The trail leads from Wat Phalad to the main road, and that 300 meters is a very steep section. Once across the road, we follow the trail back into the jungle and the noise of the road is soon gone, replaced by the jungle noise, birds and insects. This part of the trail, from the road by Wat Phalad to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is steep, very steep, unrelentingly steep  in sections.

After an hour or so, we emerge from the quiet of the jungle to the noise of the busy road near Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. About 400 meters up the road and we are at the long naga stairway to the temple itself.

Bottom of the naga stairway to the temple at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

We were all tired and climbed the 300+ stairs to the actual temple slowly. As is the norm, there were many, many people at the temple today, a contrast to the relative solitude in the jungle.

The famous gold chedi at Wat PhraThat Doi Suthep

Surrounding the large gold chedi are many small viharn (worship halls) with very striking Buddha statues in front or inside. This one is a very striking off-white marble:

And another inside a small viharn, large with elephant tusks framing the alter.

And there are many more, including this striking glass replica of the famous Emerald Buddha at Wat Phra Kaew at the Grand Palace in Bangkok (called emerald for the color, not the stone; the emerald Buddha is carved of jade).

And just to the side of the green statue is this rustic-looking Buddha statue.

Outside the temple area surrounding the gold chedi is a large area over looking Chiang Mai below. On this a relatively new standing Buddha statue was added in the last 2 or 3 years:

After resting a bit, drinking a fresh orange juice, and snacking, we headed back down the road, into the jungle and down the trail towards Wat Phalad and then Chiang Mai University.

A very good day in Chiang Mai – hot and humid, but a good day hiking in the jungle.

Next: West Side of the Wall