Wat Chedi Luang
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Wat Phra Singh, Chiang Mai
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Photo: Chalerm-a, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- grounds free; Lai Kham ≈ 20 baht
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - 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. - 45 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Grounds
- Free
- Viharn Lai Kham
- About 20 baht for foreigners
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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
- Songkran
- In April the Phra Singh image is paraded through the city
- Where
- The west end of Ratchadamnoen Road; 20 minutes on foot from Tha Phae Gate
Key facts
1345King Phayu of Lanna founded the temple to enshrine his father's ashes
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English Wikipedia1400the Phra Buddha Sihing image arrived — and gave the temple its name
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English Wikipedia1815–1821Viharn Lai Kham was built — 30 × 8 m, a model of Lanna architecture
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English WikipediaMuralsin Lai Kham tell the tales of Sang Thong and Suwannahongse
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English Wikipedia1924the main viharn was built — 56 × 24 m, with a teak roof
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English Wikipedia1935the temple became a first-class royal temple
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English WikipediaLee Chiang Phrathe temple's former name, after the market in front of it
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English Wikipedia≈ 600 mto Wat Chedi Luang — 5–10 minutes on foot
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OSMWhat is Wat Phra Singh?
Wat Phra Singh is a temple in the western part of Chiang Mai's Old City, at the end of Ratchadamnoen Road. King Phayu of Lanna founded it in 1345 to enshrine his father's ashes in a stupa. It was first called Wat Lee Chiang Phra, after the market in front of it.
In 1400 the revered Phra Buddha Sihing (Phra Singh) image was brought here, and the temple took its present name. The image sits in Viharn Lai Kham (1815–1821), a small Lanna-style hall with gilded lacquer carving and murals of the tales of Sang Thong and Suwannahongse. Since 1935 Wat Phra Singh has been a first-class royal temple.
Entry, hours and rules
The temple grounds are free. According to guides, foreigners pay about 20 baht to enter Viharn Lai Kham. The temple is open daily from about 6:00 to 18:00. There's no official website — check on site.
Cover shoulders and knees and take your shoes off at the hall doors. Don't use flash inside Lai Kham — the murals are old and fragile. Don't sit with your back to Buddha images.
What to see
- Viharn Lai Kham — the Phra Buddha Sihing image, gold carving and Lanna murals.
- The gilded stupa with elephants at its base.
- The main viharn of 1924 — 56 m long, with a teak roof.
- The scripture library on a tall white base.
- Carved gables with gold and mosaic.
- The temple courtyard — quiet, with trees and bells.
How to get to Wat Phra Singh
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 Chedi Luang is about 9 min away on foot.
- Wat Chiang Man is about 18 min away on foot.
- Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple) is about 21 min away on foot.
More tips
- From Tha Phae Gate — about 20 minutes west on foot along Ratchadamnoen Road.
- From Wat Chedi Luang — about 600 m, 5–10 minutes on foot.
- By red songthaew, Grab or tuk-tuk — to the west end of Ratchadamnoen Road.
- From Chiang Mai airport — 15 minutes by taxi.
- Enter from Ratchadamnoen Road; Lai Kham is a small hall deeper in the grounds, beyond the main viharn.
How long do you need, and when to go?
Allow 45 minutes to an hour. The best times are morning, when the monks finish their rituals and there are no groups yet, or near sunset, when the stupa's gold glows. On a Sunday evening, combine the temple with the walking market.
Wat Phra Singh fits easily into one route with Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Chiang Man — all three in the Old City.
Is Wat Phra Singh worth visiting?
Yes: it's one of the north's most revered temples, and Viharn Lai Kham with its murals is the finest example of Lanna art in Chiang Mai.
The YesGo take: the main viharn and stupa resemble many other temples; the real treasure is little Lai Kham, which is easy to walk past. Make sure you go in.
Before you go: checklist
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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 | 18 min walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wat Umong | 40 | 1 h | Free | 3.0 km |
| Wat Chedi Luang | 39 | 1 h | ≈ 40–50 baht | 10 min walk |
| Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple) | 39 | 30 min | ≈ 50 baht | 20 min walk |
| Wat Phra Singhyou are here | 38 | 45 min | grounds free; Lai Kham ≈ 20 baht | — |
| Wat Phra That Doi Suthep | 31 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ 30 baht, funicular ≈ 20 | 6.5 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 Luang1 h · ≈ 40–50 baht
- 10 min walk from the previous stopWat Phra Singhyou are here45 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
Wat Chiang Man
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple)
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Tha Phae Gate
Chiang Mai, Thailand
How to do it right
- Lai Kham is a small hall beyond the main viharn and easy to miss.
- The best stupa shot is from the east, in the morning.
- No flash — the murals are fragile.
- On Sunday evenings the market starts by the temple gate.
- Nearby: Wat Chedi Luang, 5–10 minutes away.
Questions
How much is entry to Wat Phra Singh?
The grounds are free; Viharn Lai Kham costs about 20 baht (according to guides).
What are the temple's opening hours?
Daily, roughly 6:00 to 18:00.
When was Wat Phra Singh founded?
In 1345.
What is the Phra Buddha Sihing?
A revered Buddha image, kept here since 1400.
What is the dress code?
Shoulders and knees covered; shoes off at the hall doors.
How do I get there?
About 20 minutes on foot from Tha Phae Gate along Ratchadamnoen Road.
What happens at Songkran?
The Phra Singh image is paraded through the city and splashed with water.
How long do you need?
45 minutes to 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 Phra Singh: founding in 1345, the Phra Buddha Sihing, Viharn Lai Kham and the main viharn, 1935 royal status
- 2026 travel guides — Lai Kham fee, hours (unofficial)
- OSM — temple coordinates
- YesGo general facts for Thailand — payment, transport
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