Wat Chedi Luang

วัดเจดีหลวง

A giant 15th-century brick chedi in the heart of Chiang Mai's old city. Once 82 meters tall and home to the Emerald Buddha, it stands at 60 meters after earthquake damage and is the old city's most striking ruin.

Wat Chedi Luang sits at the very center of the old city. Construction began in 1391 and was completed in 1475. The main chedi was originally about 82 meters tall, the tallest building in the Lanna Kingdom at the time. It once housed the Emerald Buddha, now at Bangkok's Wat Phra Kaew (1468–1551). After an earthquake in 1545 the spire collapsed, leaving about 60 meters. It was restored in its current state in the 1990s. The staircases on all four sides, flanked by elephant sculptures and naga railings, remain impressive. A niche now houses a replica of the Emerald Buddha carved from black jade. The temple also has a city pillar shrine, which houses the city pillar of Chiang Mai, Sao Inthakin (women are not allowed to enter). Inside the main hall are a standing Buddha and several small Lanna timber halls. Every afternoon there is a 'Monk Chat,' where you can talk in English with young monks. Admission for foreigners is 50 baht. Tips: walk the old-city temple route together with Wat Phra Singh (about 500 m away, a leading example of Lanna architecture) and Wat Phan Tao (with its teak main hall). Return in the evening when the chedi is lit up. The Sunday night market is right in front of the temple on Ratchadamnoen Road. Getting there: walk or take a songthaew within the old city. It is about a 10-minute walk from Tha Phae Gate. Note: long pants and sleeved tops are required, and shoes must be removed before entering halls. Parts of the chedi may be fenced off during restoration. Show respect to monks, and women must not touch them.

Wat Chedi Luang

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