Wat Suan Dok

Introduction

Wat Suan Dok is located in the West of Chiang Mai. When landing in the entrance of the temple, you can get dazzled by numerous exquisitely carved things called chedi surrounding the way to enter Wat Suan Dok. These small white structures are 3 meters to 6 meters high, which are ashes of old Chiang Mai Royal Family. Standing out these chedis is the largest and also the most chedi, a Buddhist chedi sure to mesmerize every onlooker by its unique beauty.

The beauty of Wat Suan Dok on a cloudy day is simply perfect

History

Wat Suan Dok was established in 1371 beyond renowned Chiang Mai walls. The story began when King Ku Na invited Sumana Thera, a very pious monk from the Sukhothai Kingdom to spread the ideology of Buddhism in Sri Lanka to Chiang Mai. The monk was planning to build a temple to make it become a new landmark for Chiang Mai, so the King offered him the royal flower garden as a suitable area. He then agreed on the recommendation of the King to build Wat Suan Dok as we know.

Activities

• Go sightseeing

As mentioned before, there are so many lovely chedis around the temple, which is the remains of the Royal Family of Chiang Mai. Here you can pose and take nice pictures with them and then share with your friends later to mark your amazing stopover in Chiang Mai. Besides, you can also take a great chance to visit Main Viharn or Main Auction Hall of the temple. The Main Viharn was under reconstruction in the early 1930s by Khru Ba Srivichai. It is accentuated by a pretty large Buddha image with a hand holding a straw, standing back to back with another seated image. When heading to the south, you will meet a smaller viharn that contains a seated Buddha image, the Phra Chao Kao Tue. The statue was cast by King Muang Kaew in 1504 with 4.7 meters tall and made up of nine pieces. What’s more to keep tourists hooked are various pictures hanged onto the walls of the viharn that show the daily lives of the Buddha.

Prepare your camera at any time to capture picturesque views at Wan Suan Dok 

• Get to a meditation retreat 

It would be a big mistake if you skip healthy meditation or intriguing monk chat sessions when you are visiting Wat Suan Dok. Both activities are considered the most striking features of the temple that may bring you more than what you expect. The meditation will take place in a retreat quite far away out of town. However, the temple is willing to serve you transport options to help you reach the retreat to learn about meaningful lessons of Buddhism and a variety of useful methods to mediate in an effective way.

Have a meditation course is believed to do wonders for both your physical and mental health

• Do a monk chat

Another noticeable activity worth your try is attending a monk chat session in Wat Suan Dok. Remember monk chat will be hosted just 2 hours from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday per week. You can take your chance to verbally interact with experienced monks to novice monks at the university that can be some unforgettable moments for your stay at the temple. The monk will allow you to ask anything ranging from Thai culture, tradition, custom to what you are still confused about Buddhism. Get ready to be immersed in a very informative and friendly atmosphere!

Get exciting moments and enrich your knowledge of Thai Culture with a cozy monk chat session

Transportation

Suan Dok Temple is always one of the most accessible temples in Thailand. It lies right away on Suthep Road just outside the Old City, which is just approximately 1 kilometer east of Suan Dok Gate. You can opt for some means of transports from cost-effective ones such as red truck, tuk-tuk to more flexible one like rented bicycle upon your interest and schedule.

In a nutshell, Wat Suan Dok is truly a remarkable tourist spot you should pay high attention to when you are planning to take a nice vacation in South Thailand. There are still many hidden charms waiting for you to discover, so make sure you will pay Suan Dok a visit! The temple promises to create a one-of-a-kind experience to bring home for all visitors. Back your suitcase now and let the memory of a wonderful trip to Thailand begin!

Ngo Cuong

Image source: Internet