Sunday 29 December 2024
Visiting temples north of the old city of Chiang Mai

Today I have no yoga, strength training, or a specific hike planned. I decided to revisit a temple quite a distance north of the old city, Wat Chiang Chom with an especially appealing chedi. On the walk back, I’ll stop at a Burmese temple I have not seen for a while, Wat Ku Tao, and then have another look at Wat Santitam while I am north of the old city. Given that this will be a very long walk, I got a ride to Wat Chiang Chom to start today’s adventure.

Wat Chiang Chom

Right at the front entrance, my view is dominating a large old chedi to my left as I entered the temple grounds. Named the Wat Chedi Plong, this is the oldest structure on the temple grounds, dating back to the 15th or 16th century. With a round base and many niches in the upper layers, this style is very similar to a very new chedi at Wat Santitam (which will be the third temple today), the chedi at Wat Phuak Hom in the old city near Suan Prung Gate, and the chedi at Wat Chedi Liam down south of the old city at Wiang Kum Kam. Here is a view of the chedi from the entrance gate, and one showing the juxtoposition of the new ubosot (ordination hall) with an apartment building in the background.

From a report written in 2015, the ubosot was not there, so the ubosot was build since 2015. The writer of that article speculated that there may have been a separate temple in this part of the grounds, because the chedi was by itself and 75 meters of open field between it and the other temple buildings. And, the viharn (assembly hall) has a new-looking chedi behind it.

The ubosot is very nicely decorated, and very definitely in the Lanna style, with tiered, overlapping roof sections sweeping low at the sides, and the front entrance stairs guarded by the fierce naga creatures. The inside of the ubosot is very plain, simply decorated.

Walking along the side of the ubosot towards the chedi, I took this short video:

Across a broad field is the viharn (assembly or worship hall) and other buildings. The viharn has a very dramatic facade with an impressive flight of steps leading to the entrance guarded by the nagas. Here is a side view of the Naga stairway and of the altar inside the viharn.

I noticed and immediately liked a notable feature of the viharn, the intricately carved window coverings.

Over to the side of the viharn is a pavilion with a fairly large reclining Buddha.

And to the right of the reclining Buddha pavilion is another pavilion almost buried in the foliage with a very nice Buddha image inside.

I enjoyed my peaceful visit to the fairly remote Wat Chiang Chom. It is time to walk south towards a Burmese temple, Wat Ku Tao.

Next: Wat Ku Tao, a Burmese temple