The Wat Suan Dok located just West of the old walled part of Chiang Mai city is a very old temple known for its large number of white chedis or pagodas.
Wat Suan Dok literally means “flower garden temple”. The temple derives its name from the location where it was built. The temple area was once used as a Royal flower garden by the ruler of Chiang Mai.
The most noticeable feature of the Wat Suan Dok is the large number of chedis. The tallest golden chedi in Sri Lankan style is 48 meters high and contains the relic of the Buddha. A large number of smaller white chedis contain the ashes of members of several generations of the Chiang Mai Royal Family. The ashes were brought here from several places in Chiang Mai as requested by Princess Dara Rasmi early 20th century.
The sacred Buddha relic of the Wat Suan Dok
The Wat Suan Dok temple was built during the second half of the 14th century to house a sacred Buddha relic. A monk named Sumana Thera from Sukhothai discovered a relic which was believed to be the shoulder bone of the Buddha. King Kuene who ruled the Lanna Kingdom during much of the second half of the 14th century invited the monk to Chiang Mai. The King had the Wat Suan Dok temple built to enshrine the Buddha relic.
When the monk arrived in Chiang Mai, the bone had magically split into two pieces, one being of the original size, the other one smaller. The smaller relic was enshrined in the Wat Suan Dok.
The King ordered the larger part to be put on the back of a white elephant that was set free to go where it wanted. The elephant climbed up Doi Suthep mountain, West of Chiang Mai. It trumpeted three times and died close to the top. At that spot the Wat Phra That Doi Suthep was built in the year 1383.
Chedis and viharn
Name
Wat Suan Dok
Date
Second half of the 14th century
Location
Suthep road
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai