Description of the attraction
Wat Phrathat Doi Kham is far from being the most famous among tourists, however, an extremely revered temple in Chiang Mai. The presence of the particle "phrathat" in its name means that the temple is at the top rung of the Buddhist hierarchy and is one of the main in the province.
Built in the 7th century, Wat Phrathat Doi Kham is located on the top of a mountain in the suburbs of Chiang Mai, by the way, translated from Thai, “wat doi kham” means “temple on the golden mountain”. The most ancient structure on the territory of the temple is the chedi (stupa), built back in 687. It has many similarities with another temple on the top of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, which is the city's trademark. From all sides, the entrance to the chedi is guarded by golden nagas (mythical snakes).
There is a legend among local residents that thousands of years ago on the site of Wat Doi Kham there lived cannibals, who were once met by the traveling Buddha Gautama. He urged the giants to abandon such a lifestyle and listen to Buddhist truths. At parting, Buddha gave the cannibals a lock of his hair, which is still kept inside the ancient chedi.
On the territory of the temple, in addition to the traditional viharna (main hall), there is an open gallery with many statues of Buddhas in various poses and forms, as well as an incredibly beautiful ubosot (a special hall for monks) outside.
The central figure at Wat Phrathat Doi Kham is the 17-meter high Buddha statue at the top of the hill. The inner courtyard of the temple also houses a collection of bells and gongs.
Due to the remoteness of the temple from the city center, a quiet and peaceful atmosphere always reigns in it, and the panoramic views of the city inspire visitors.
