Saturday, January 26, 2019
Walking Along the South and West Side of the Wall – Part 2

Wat Phra Singh

After entering the old city through Suan Dok Gate, I was close to Wat Phra Singh. Wat Phra Singh is of four temples in Chiang Mai with the Royal Temple status. King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII), the older brother of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), bestowed on it the status of Royal Temple of the First Class in 1935. Of the more than 40,000 Buddhist temples in Thailand, a mere twenty-five are Royal Temples of the First Class, and only two temples in Chiang Mai have that status: Wat Sri Suphan and Wat Phra Singh. The famous Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is a Royal Temple of the Second Class, and Wat Suan Dok is a Royal Temple of the Third Class.

Entrance sign at Wat Phra Singh

Wat Phra Singh is almost always crowded, with bus loads of tourists (Thai and foreign) arriving every day. Being a Saturday, I was almost surprised at how relatively sparse the crowds were today. Perhaps this is a bit of a tourist lull between the New Year and Chinese New Year. On entering the temple grounds, the first sight is the large main viharn (worship hall).

Main viharn (worship hall) at Wat Phra Singh

There are several structures at Wat Phra Singh, including an ubosot (ordination hall) and a smaller viharn. both are smaller, more rustic, and less crowded. The ubosot is my favorite:

Ubosot (ordination hall) at Wat Phra Singh

More detail of the elaborately carved entrance, with the carved thewada (angelic beings who live in the heavenly realms) flanking the doors:

Detail of entrance of secondary viharn at Wat Phra Singh

Inside this ubosot, the decoration is detailed but fairly simple, with a little rustic feeling.

inside the ubosot at Wat Phra Singh

And opposite the main alter, to the side of the entrance is this worship area with a Buddha footprint. These Buddha footprints are not rare, but not common, either. They are meant to be a reminder that Buddha was present on earth and left a spiritual ‘path’ to be followed. This one is quite intricate and detailed.

At the back of the main viharn are two gold chedi. Over the past two years, these chedi have undergone extensive restoration and are now shiny gold. (I liked their more rustic look.)

Restored gold chedi at Wat phra Singh

Walking out, I pass my second favorite building at Wat Phra Singh, the hor trai (library) with the carved thewada on the outer walls:

Hor Trai (library) at Wat Phra Singh with thewada carvings

Next: Return to Wat Sri Suphan