Wat a day

This title is a terrible pun but I can’t help it.

One of our favorite things to do in Chiang Mai is visit a wat. And there are lots of them— over 300! They are all over the city, some next door to each other. Many have undergone renovations since our last visit here 4 years ago and have been restored to to their original splendor. Others, while waiting for the funds to renovate, maintain their grandeur and grace. Some are popular tourist attractions (charging an entrance fee) and others are quiet, simply frequented by locals.

Wat Lok Mali is close by along the moat road. It was established sometime in the 14th century by Burmese monks and is most famous for its large Chedi (or Stupa) and the beautifully sculpted nagas (dragons)

Here we have the viharn where devotees assemble to pray. The stone and topiary animals represent the signs of the zodiac. Both the chedi (large domed structure behind the temple) and the viharn were built in the 16th century.

The carved wooden facade is beautiful.

This chedi is considered to be rather plain but I think it is quite elegant. The monks have dressed it with a bright orange cloth where devotees have written prayers.

For years people have been placing figurines around the base of the chedi.

Laundry day for the monks.

I can’t resist the triplets. Three is a significant number in Buddhism because it represents the Three Jewels of Buddhism: Buddha, Dharma (teachings of Buddha) and Sangha (monkhood).

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Wat Chiang Yuen is one of the oldest wats in the city. The iron work around the large white chedi is remarkable.

Wat Pa Pao is one of my favorites. The chedi has been left to the elements giving it a weathered and decayed appearance. But compared to others the temple is not very old. It was built in 1883 by the Thai Yai community. In the late 19th century Chiang Mai was one of the centers of the Thai teak logging industry. A large number of Shan Burmese workers migrated to Chiang Mai from the Shan states in North East Burma, and constructed their own places of worship.

The chedi is decorated with mythical creatures. This is a chinthe or a leogryph—a lion like creature.

While Wat Pa Pao may look abandoned, it is quite busy and noisy. The surrounding buildings house the Pa Pao primary school where the children learn both Thai and Shan. George snapped this photo of the children who came out of their classroom (shoeless) to get their lunch.

This Buddha sits at the entrance to Wat Chiang Yeun.

Wat Jet Yod dates back to the 15th century. It covers several acres and feels like a park. Here is a cemetary tucked away in the grounds.

One of the many Buddhas around Wat Jet Yod.

Another Buddha tucked away at Wat Jet Yod.

Again Wat Jet Yod. Devotees apply gold leaf to the statue of Buddha. The purple robed figure on the left is a wax figure representing a well known monk. Temples have several waxed figures placed around the viharn. They are very life-like and I find them disconcerting.

It was a special day at Wat Phra Singh, one of the more significant wats inside the old city. Note the smart phone in the monk’s hand. EVERYONE has a phone.

And finally, the wat dog. Every wat has at least one dog and several cats. This fellow is staying cool in the shade.