Chiang Mai's the majority honored temple, Wat Phra Singh attracts pilgrims and holidaymaker for its dweller Lord buddha and its traditional Lanna art and buildings. Voyager should dress humbly.
Phra Singh temple is sometime the largest and most interesting, although it may not seem so at first look . At entering the main gate, you're greeted by a large and dusty parking area. Across the lot is a great prayer hall (prayer hallway) with an intricately carved front. This is your firstly clue that there's more here than there might come into view. The altar in the large sanctuary is charming, though rather archetypal for Thai wats these days. We were somewhat pleased by the plethora of "account books" strewn about on the reasonable side of the altar (behind the columns in the picture we're afraid). In any wat that gets traveller, there is almost always a donation box with a guest book for you to write your name and gobbet donated in. Well, in this temple there were at least half a dozen boxes, each with a different intention - renovation of the wat structure, electricity, taxes, etc. - and so each with its own account book. At making a donation to one or more purpose, you then have to write around for the proper book to write it down in.
Wat Phra Singh has supreme model of Lanna art. A stupa was initial created by Ruler Pha Yu (r.1337-55) to house the bones of his father King Kam Fu (r.1328- 37). The original name of the wat was Wat Li Chiang Phra but this was changed to Wat Phra Singh when the Phra Sihing Buddha sculpture was first housed there in 1367. The wat was almost exactly deserted before Kawila re-established it by construction the ubosot, and reconstruction the pagoda. Chao Thammalangka (r.1813-21) and his successor, Chao Kham Fan (r. 1821-1825) furthermore additional or remodel the Viharn Lai Kham and the stylish holy book library construction. Moreover rehash were carried out in the 1920's when Khru Ba Srivichai attach the structuring of the present main viharn and rebuilt the chedi. The ubosot and holy book library were renovated in 1929.
What to See at Phra Singh temple
Viharn Luang
The biggest structure in the temple is the Viharn Luang. The original viharn was made towards the end of the 14th century, but was replaced by the current construction in 1925. This spectacular viharn houses a very highly valued Lord buddha image named Phra Chao Thong Tip. This gold and copper statue of a seated Lord buddha was cast in 1477.
Viharn Lai Kham
Viharn Lai Kam (The Gilded Assembly hall) is a hall where the Phra Singh Buddha is housed. It is an tempting construction of Thai Lanna Style, 24 metes wide and 56 meters long.The teak wat is a gorgeous example of Lanna or northern Thai buildings, with soaring "wings" on the ends of the eaves and abundant carved wood and stucco enrichment throughout. The walls inside the wat are decorated with drawing depicting Lanna life in the 19th century. The mural paintings on the walls of Wat Phra Singh represent the picture of Suwannahong and Sang Thong classic literature.
Ho Trai
The small holy book repository - ho trai - in the north-east corner is the finest of its type in the north. It sits atop a raised base decorated with stucco Devas. The Ho Trai of the Wat Phra Singh is another excellent example of Lanna style buildings. The upper wooden structure is decorated with carvings and stucco and is covered in glass mosaic and gilded lacquer.
Phra Singh Lord buddha
A good deal of legend surrounds the possible origins of this image with local belief holding that it is some 1,500 years old and was originally brought to Thailand from Sri Lanka. This however would seem unlikely since the it is in the early Chiang Saen Style. The Phra Singh Lord buddha has been a essential Buddha sculpture of the Thai lanna people for many years. On the day of the Songkran Festival , the Phra Singh Buddha is espectfully mounted on the royal carriage , and travels in a procession around the city of Chiang Mai, so that Chiang Mai people can pay homage in a traditional manner to the image.
This was a charming wat, and a must do in Chiang Mai. The grounds are preferably attractive and it is right in the center of the city. There are numerous gorgeous temples in Chiang Mai, but this is a highlight.
How to go?
The temple is positioned at the end of Ratchadamnoen Road which nearly bisects the old city, running from the Tapae gate all the way to the temple, which is just inside of the Suan Dok gate.
Ticket charge & opening hours
The wat commonly is open every day from 6 am to 5 pm. Entrance fee is free.