Description of the attraction
Translated from Thai, "Wat Suan Dok" means "Temple of the Flower Garden" and is located next to the Royal Buddhist University.
The temple was founded in 1370 by the King of Lanna Kue Na in the area of the settlement of the "Lavo" people near Mount Doi Suthep. The garden that existed on the territory of the temple gave it its name. The revered monk from the Kingdom of Sukhothai Maha Sumana Thepa was appointed to be in charge of Wat Suan Dok.
The first thing that catches your eye at the entrance to the territory of the temple is the dazzling snow-white structures resembling small chedi (stupas). In fact, these are the mausoleums where the ashes of the members of the Chiang Mai Royal Family are kept. At the beginning of the 20th century, Princess Dara Rashmi (one of the wives of King Rama V and daughter of King Lanna Inthavichayanon) gathered together the ashes of her ancestors from various places in the Chiang Mai region.
Of great value is the 48-meter bell-shaped chedi (stupa) built in the Sri Lankan style. It contains the relics of the Buddha, which are guarded by the many-headed nagas, which is a distinctive feature of the architecture of the Lanna Kingdom.
In the recently renovated sala (meditation room), the location of the Buddha statues is interesting. While usually all the statues are facing east, in Wat Suan Dok they are opposite each other. The statue of the Buddha sitting in meditation looks to the east, and the statue of the standing Buddha looks to the west towards the chedi. One of the reasons for this location is the undeniable importance of the chedi and the relics in it.
The temple is also famous for the bronze statue of the Buddha Phra Chao Kao Tu, created in 1504 and measuring 4.7 meters in height. It is notable for a mixture of styles: the clothes of the Buddha are made in the style of Ayutthaya, while the elongated fingers indicate a clear influence of the Sukhothai style. The statue is located in the ubosot (small room of the temple).
