He gave Eric some suggestions and he went with an interesting beer from Belgium. So we bought our tickets and made our way to the temple entrance. There was some significant cloud cover which made it hard to see the city below, but it was still beautiful to see. Especially when the more famous religious complexes in the area are overrun with tourists in the high season. I also work hard to inform others of how to be respectful so hopefully fellow travelers will start paying attention to the customs and beliefs of the places they are visiting. Eric said his Khao Soi was definitely not as great as the one he had the night before but he was really hungry so he ate it anyway. Great post, your photos are beautiful, too. The route is a straight one, but the road itself has some curves, so anyone with minimal motorbike or scooter experience should consider alternate transportation. Once you’re up the mountain (via whatever method you’ve chosen), you’ll see a large cluster of souvenir stands and stalls selling food and drinks before you head up to the temple. We saw a small pagoda to our right as soon as we entered and noticed a group of monks walking in. They didn’t know these girls at all but clearly had some empathy since they got to see the inside but the girls couldn’t. The oldest part of this temple is the Chedi Chang Lom elephant monument. It is a sacred site to many Thai people. Luckily, two guys exiting the temple saw them and asked if they wanted them to share their pictures. We stopped a few times on the way to the top to snap a few pictures. After our 5-minute tuk-tuk ride, we arrived at Wat Chiang Man, the oldest temple in Chiang Mai. Oh thank you so much!! Then he smiled and said, “magic.” We assumed he was referring to how beautiful Wat Pha Lat was. According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Wat Phra That Doi Suthep: Doi Suthep Temple: Amazing Mountaintop Sunrise Tour and Stunning City Views (From US$64,62) Wat Doi Suthep Temple and White Meo Hilltribe Village Half-Day … I’ve been to Thailand once before, but missed my chance at visiting Chang Mai. Another early riser Waking up early in a new city is one of my favorite things to do! Since breakfast started at 7:30 am, not much was out for us to eat. I really enjoyed reading your post – those photos are amazing! Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is doubtless Chiang Mai’s most famous temple on the mountain called Doi Suthep. Legend says it was built in 1383 and expanded over time. Of course, I respected their tradition, but it was one of those things that made me feel less just because of my gender. Your photos are incredible – especially the one of you on the stairs. The kitten pounced on the broom and immediately jumped back because his broom was basically just a bunch of pine needles bundled together. It’s famous for Japanese people (but not really busy) and it has a similar super-calming feeling. It wasn’t big, but the setting on the side of a mountain and in the middle of the jungle was so beautiful. We were welcomed by Anders (owner), his wife, and their little girl. I thanked her in Thai (ขอบคุณ or khob khun kha) and bowed (called ‘wai’) to show my gratitude for her kindness. Once you get to the base of the temple, you have two options for getting up to it. Otherwise, a day trip to the temple makes for a refreshing and culturally interesting day (or half-day) excursion from Chiang Mai. But yes, it’s part of another culture, and we just have to hope there are some guys that can go in and tell us how it was! Post was not sent - check your email addresses! The Zoo . We ended up asking for a couple to-go boxes so we could snag some fresh croissants before we headed out on our trip up the mountain. But even if you’ve had your fill of temples (or think you’ve seen them all), planning a trip to see Wat Doi Suthep is worth your time, even if just for the photo-worthy views. I'm Lauryn, a travel blogger with a home base in Atlanta, Georgia. Wat Phan Tao is a beautiful wooden temple with a decorated garden area. Isn’t it beautiful?! Our songthaew driver was early and the croissants had just been put out so we decided to head out a little before 8:00 am. I’ve never been to a place that felt so happy and peaceful. From my research before our trip, I knew that many monks enjoyed talking with tourists in order to practice their English. . The temple is split into outer and inner terraces and steps lead to the inner terrace where there is a walkway around the golden Chedi (shrine) enshrining the relic. Eva from our hotel had recommended Khun Kae’s Juice Bar for us to try if we found ourselves in that area. This temple does not have a view of the city; The second section is more strenuous, going up more steeply from the small temple of Wat Pha Lat to the main Doi Suthep Temple. The details were incredible, unlike any other temple we had seen so far. Chaing Mai seems like the place to do that . Eric had found a place called Ugo Restaurant that had lots of interesting beers from around Southeast Asia so we decided to make that our lunch spot. The temple is about 15 km from the city of Chiang Mai. They even had some pastries left. Sounds like a movie, doesn’t it? We arrived at the base of the temple around 8:30 am. Again, there was hardly anyone around so we were able to stand wherever we wanted to take in the view. I was on my second glass of wine so there was no hesitation when I turned around and said, “I couldn’t help but overhear that you’re from Orlando. However, this included a free cold bottle of water for each of us so we didn’t mind paying at all. The temple is said to have been founded in 1383 when the first stupa was built. It’s hard for me to put into words the immense tranquility I felt at this temple. I haven’t visited a temple yet but would love to. The fee is 20 THB for Thais and 50 THB for foreigners. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is a major pilgrimage destination, especially during the Buddhist holidays of Makha Bucha and Visakha Bucha (February 13 and May 11, respectively). I would definitely be pissed about not being able to go into a temple because of my gender, so I’m glad I know I have to drag my boyfriend with me when I go. Our pizza came and it lived up to the hype. Thank you so much for your kind words. The crystal Buddha, Phra Satang, was from the 8th or 10th century and is said to have rainmaking powers. I ordered a sticky mango beer and Eric got a Chiang Mai beer called Blossom Weizen. The Thai culture overall is so kind, respectful, and beautiful. As we were leaving, we heard, “Lauryn! From Chiang Mai Zoo at the foot of the mountain and at the end of Huay Kaew Road, a good road winds its way up Doi Suthep for 15 kilometres. So we bought a few along with an iced latte for me. They kept apologizing but we didn’t care. We reached the entrance to the temple and that’s where I had to end my visit. The place where he lay is now the site of where Doi Suthep’s temple was founded. Before we left, we used the bathrooms. Eric enjoyed his beer. We even saw a cute temple kitten when we walked up. It’s no secret that Chiang Mai is home to many temples, which you may have seen several of on a visit to the Northern Thai city. Continue reading the travel diary here: Day 12: Traveling from Chiang Mai, Thailand to Bali, Indonesia, Hi! I enjoyed this temple more than any other temple we had visited so far in Southeast Asia. The inside was so beautiful. In addition to those aforementioned views, the golden, gleaming temple itself is highlight, but don’t rush your visit. There are several ways to get from Chiang Mai city to the mountaintop temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. I was already nervous that we were leaving too late to beat the crowds at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, but I tried to focus on the fact that we were getting to go at all. Turn right onto this narrow road, go straight for about 100 meters then take the first (and only) left. The original founding of the temple remains a legend and there are a few varied versions. - See 7,663 traveler reviews, 9,487 candid photos, and great deals for Doi Suthep, Thailand, at Tripadvisor. The pizza and desserts at the restaurant looked awesome as well as the ice cream from earlier. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. You hop in one and wait until it … Not just my favorite temple, but honestly one of my favorite places in the world! It was so beautiful and peaceful with hardly anyone around. 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