Monday, January 23, 2023
Third temple on this Monday

After walking through a few sois and finally getting to Hussadhisawee Road, I continued south, into a familiar area and near Wat Santitham. The last temple I visited, Wat Chiang Chom, was a little uninspiring, and it was odd to see not a single person there. Nevertheless, I soon arrived at Wat Santitham. As I mentioned in my previous post, why Wat Santitham is not on Santitham Road is one of the mysteries or maybe quirks of Chiang Mai.

Wat Santitham

I last visited Wat Santitham in 2020, sometimes spelled Wat Santidham. One of the “attractions” of Wat Santitham is a museum containing hundreds of Buddha relics. This is noted on the blue sign to the right of the entrance that says, “The Museum of The Lord Buddha Relics and The Holy Monk relics.”. In my visit in 2020, there was much construction or renovation taking place.

Inside the entrance, there is a building under construction to the left, behind which is a completed building that was under construction in 2020. Here is a picture of that building. Many people were walking in and out, apparently getting ready for some event outside under the awning in the lower left.

The viharn is fairly large, with the front above the entrance decorated in a striking blue and gold color. This is also very much in the Lanna style with overlapping roof sections sweeping low on the sides, and naga dragon-like creatures guarding the entrance stairway.

The door to the viharn is guarded not by the typical yakshas or by thewada, but by two elephants. This is the only temple I can think of with elephants right by and guarding the door.

Inside the viharn is quite stark, with almost no decoration except the bhodi tree mural behind the Buddha image. The side walls are plain white, and the columns are plain white with minimal gold trim at the top and bottom.

I walked to the back of the viharn to view the large chedi which was in the final phase of construction when I last visited. My understanding is that construction of this chedi was started in 2014. The style of the chedi is from the early Lanna era and based on Wat Chedi Liam in the ancient city of Wiang Kum Kam southeast of the old city of Chiang Mai. This is also very similar in style to the chedi at the previous temple I visited today, Wat Chiang Chom. I have visited Wiang Kum Kam three times, and took the following picture of the chedi at Wat Chedi Lam in 2020:

As a comparison, here is the chedi at Wat Santitham:

Both chedis are square in shape and have three niches per side on five levels.

After walking around the chedi, I walked over to the entrance of the museum. I like the welcoming, almost playful stance of the thewada at the entrance to the museum.

The museum contains objects such as bones, teeth, hair etc. which all attributed to a particular monk in Thailand, often with their photograph. A notice at the front reads: “The Museum of the Lord Buddha’s relics from 5 countries together with relics of Arahants and holy monks from all over Thailand.” I went into the museum in 2020, took no pictures because I found it somewhat odd and more than a little gruesome. So I did not enter this time.

I left Wat Santitham, negotiated my way south along Hussadhisawee Road and soon found myself at Hua Lin Corner, the northwest corner of the wall.

From here it is about 2 kilometers to See You Soon, my accommodation in the heart of the old city. Arrived back at See You Soon late in the afternoon, cleaned up, and I was craving pizza for dinner. Being Monday, some restaurants are closed, including Street Pizza. I had been at La Fontana just yesterday, so I decided to go to The Duke’s to try their pizza. Their small pizza plus a salad was just right for dinner. I would rate their pizza third behind La Fontana and Street Pizza. Good meal following a very good day in Chiang Mai.

Next: Woo Cafe and more of the Kamphaengdin