Wat Phra Singh
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Wat Chedi Luang, Chiang Mai
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Photo: Douglas Perkins, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Hours
- Daily, roughly 6:00–18:00
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 1 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Entry for foreigners
- About 40–50 baht in cash; less for children
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Monk chat
- By day, roughly 9:00–18:00, on the north side of the grounds
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Dress code
- Shoulders and knees covered; shoes off at the hall doors
- City pillar
- The Sao Inthakin shrine — by tradition, only men go inside
- Where
- Phra Pokklao Road, central Old City; 10 minutes from Tha Phae Gate
Key facts
82 mthe stupa's 15th-century height, with a 54 m base — the largest building in Lanna
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English Wikipedia14th centurywork began under King Saenmueangma to hold his father's ashes
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English Wikipedia1545the top ≈ 30 m of the stupa collapsed; the ruin was preserved
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English Wikipedia1468–1551the Emerald Buddha stood in the eastern niche — it's now in Bangkok
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English Wikipedia1995for the stupa's 600th anniversary, a black jade copy of the Emerald Buddha was placed in the niche
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English WikipediaSao Inthakinthe city's guardian pillar was moved here in 1800
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English Wikipedia3 templesonce made up today's grounds
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English WikipediaEvery daymonk chats let you ask about Buddhism and Thailand
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English WikipediaEntrance fee, hours and rules
According to guides, entry for foreigners costs about 40–50 baht — pay cash at the desk by the entrance; children pay less. The temple is open daily from about 6:00 to 18:00. There's no official website, so check prices on site.
Cover shoulders and knees and take your shoes off at the hall doors. By tradition, only men enter the Sao Inthakin city pillar shrine. Don't climb the stupa or sit with your back to Buddha images.
What is Wat Chedi Luang?
Wat Chedi Luang ('temple of the great stupa') stands at the very heart of Chiang Mai's Old City. The stupa was begun in the 14th century under King Saenmueangma to hold his father's ashes and finished by the mid-15th century under King Tilokaraj. It then reached 82 m on a 54 m base — the largest building in Lanna.
In 1545 the top 30 m or so collapsed, and it has stood as a majestic ruin ever since. It was partly restored in the 1990s with support from UNESCO and Japan. From 1468 to 1551 the eastern niche held the Emerald Buddha, now in Bangkok's Grand Palace; in 1995, for the stupa's 600th anniversary, a black jade copy was placed there.
What to see
- The great stupa — a ruin over 50 m tall with naga-lined stairs.
- The eastern niche with the black jade copy of the Emerald Buddha.
- Elephants around the base of the stupa.
- The Phra Chao Attarot Buddha hall by the entrance, from the late 14th century.
- The Sao Inthakin city pillar shrine and its three sacred trees.
- The reclining Buddha pavilion on the other side of the stupa.
How to get to Wat Chedi Luang
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Wat Phra Singh is about 9 min away on foot.
- Tha Phae Gate is about 14 min away on foot.
- Wat Chiang Man is about 16 min away on foot.
More tips
- From Tha Phae Gate — about 10 minutes west on foot along Ratchadamnoen Road, then south on Phra Pokklao Road.
- From Wat Phra Singh — about 5–10 minutes on foot.
- By red songthaew, Grab or tuk-tuk — to Phra Pokklao Road in the Old City.
- From Chiang Mai airport — 15–20 minutes by taxi.
- Enter from Phra Pokklao Road; the ticket desk is at the gate.
How long do you need, and when to go?
Allow an hour, or an hour and a half with a monk chat. Mornings, around 7:00–8:00, are quiet and cool; in the evening the stupa is beautifully lit. In May the 6–8-day city pillar festival takes place here — crowded but atmospheric.
Wat Chedi Luang pairs easily with Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chiang Man — all three are in the Old City, 10–15 minutes apart.
Is Wat Chedi Luang worth visiting?
Yes: the huge half-ruined stupa is one of Chiang Mai's most impressive sights, and monk chat is a rare chance to learn about Buddhism first-hand.
The YesGo take: there's an entry fee, and the 1990s restoration divides historians — some details aren't in Lanna style. But for a first look at Chiang Mai it's an essential stop.
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Chiang Mai temples: compare and choose
Chiang Mai temples rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.
| Wat Chiang Man | 44 | 30 min | Free | 14 min walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wat Umong | 40 | 1 h | Free | 3.5 km |
| Wat Chedi Luangyou are here | 39 | 1 h | ≈ 40–50 baht | — |
| Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple) | 39 | 30 min | ≈ 50 baht | 17 min walk |
| Wat Phra Singh | 38 | 45 min | grounds free; Lai Kham ≈ 20 baht | 10 min walk |
| Wat Phra That Doi Suthep | 31 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ 30 baht, funicular ≈ 20 | 7.1 km |
Chiang Mai's Old City in half a day
Wat Chiang Man, then Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh — all three in the Old City. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- Wat Chiang Man30 min · free
- 14 min walk from the previous stopWat Chedi Luangyou are here1 h · ≈ 40–50 baht
- 10 min walk from the previous stopWat Phra Singh45 min · grounds free; Lai Kham ≈ 20 baht
3 places · about 2 h 39 min with walks · 24 min on foot in total
Nearby — add to your day
Tha Phae Gate
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Wat Chiang Man
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple)
Chiang Mai, Thailand
How to do it right
- The best shot of the stupa is from the east side, by the naga stairs.
- In the evening the stupa is beautifully lit.
- Monk chat is free, on the north side.
- Don't sit with your back to a Buddha for photos.
- 5–10 minutes away: Wat Phra Singh.
Questions
How much is entry to Wat Chedi Luang?
About 40–50 baht for foreigners (according to guides).
What are Wat Chedi Luang's opening hours?
Daily, roughly 6:00 to 18:00.
How tall was the stupa?
82 m; today it's a ruin after its top collapsed in 1545.
Where can I talk to monks?
On the north side of the grounds, by day, free of charge.
Did the Emerald Buddha stand here?
Yes, from 1468 to 1551; a black jade copy now sits in the niche.
What is the dress code?
Shoulders and knees covered; shoes off at the hall doors.
How do I get there?
About 10 minutes on foot from Tha Phae Gate.
How long do you need?
About an hour.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- English Wikipedia — Wat Chedi Luang: history, stupa height and size, 1545, the Emerald Buddha, 1990s restoration, 1995 copy, Sao Inthakin, monk chat
- 2026 travel guides (Thai Holiday Guide and others) — price, hours, monk chat location (unofficial)
- OSM — temple coordinates
- YesGo general facts for Thailand — payment, transport
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