Wat Umong
วัดอุโมงค์
A 700-year-old temple in the forest at the foot of Doi Suthep, famous for its brick meditation tunnels. Wooden signs bearing Buddhist sayings hang in the trees, and the atmosphere is tranquil.
Wat Umong was built by King Mengrai in the late 13th century and is tucked into woodland at the foot of Doi Suthep. It is a forest meditation temple. Its most distinctive feature is the brick tunnels beneath an earthen mound (Umong means 'tunnel'). Niches with Buddha images line the passages, and early murals survive in places. The tunnels are said to have been built for a senior monk who liked to meditate alone. Above them stand ancient chedis, and tree trunks are hung with wooden signs bearing Buddhist sayings in Thai and English. The temple also has ponds where fish and pigeons are kept, and a garden of broken Buddha heads. Admission is free; it is open roughly 6 a.m.–6 p.m., and English-language Dhamma talks are often held on Sunday afternoons. It is about 10 minutes by car from Chiang Mai University, so a taxi is recommended. There are many mosquitoes in the forest, so bring insect repellent.
Opening hours
About 06:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Baan Kang Wat
- Wat Suan Dok
- Chiang Mai University
- Nimmanhaemin Road
- Wat Pha Lat
- Chiang Mai Zoo
- Wat Phra Singh
- Wat Sri Suphan