# Wat Umong — the forest temple with tunnels, Chiang Mai > Wat Umong is a forest monastery at the foot of Doi Suthep, 5 km west of Chiang Mai's Old City. Its highlight is a set of 14th-century brick tunnels beneath the stupa, lined with Buddha images. Around it are woods, a turtle pond and 'talking trees' hung with proverbs. Entry is free and it's open by day. An hour is enough. It's 10–15 minutes from the Old City by Grab. Web page: https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/wat-umong - City: [Chiang Mai](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai), Thailand - YesGo score: 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free; donations welcome - Hours: By day, roughly 6:00–18:00 - Tunnels: Beneath the stupa, with niches and Buddha images; dark and cool inside - Meditation: The Suan Phutthatham meditation centre has run here since 1949 - Dress code: Shoulders and knees covered; shoes off before the tunnels and halls - Distance: ≈ 5 km from the Old City, 10–15 minutes by Grab or songthaew - Coordinates: 18.78367, 98.95339 - Facts checked: 08.11.2026 ## Key facts - **700 years** — of history: King Mangrai, Chiang Mai's founder, established it (source: English Wikipedia) - **Sri Lanka** — it was built for monks invited from Sri Lanka (source: English Wikipedia) - **1355–1385** — under King Kue Na, tunnels were dug in all four directions beneath the stupa (source: English Wikipedia) - **Bamboo** — its first name meant 'temple of the eleven bamboo clumps' (source: English Wikipedia) - **1949** — a meditation centre opened here, modelled on Suan Mokkh (source: English Wikipedia) - **≈ 6 ha** — of woodland — 37.5 rai — make up the monastery (source: English Wikipedia) - **'Talking trees'** — carry signs with proverbs in Thai and English (source: English Wikipedia) - **≈ 5 km** — by road from Wat Chedi Luang, about 10 minutes (source: OSRM route) ## What is Wat Umong? **Wat Umong** is a forest Buddhist monastery at the foot of **Doi Suthep** mountain, 1 km south of Chiang Mai University. It's about **700 years old**: **King Mangrai** founded it for monks invited from Sri Lanka and named it the 'temple of the eleven bamboo clumps'. Under **King Kue Na** (1355–1385) it was restored and **tunnels** were dug beneath the stupa in all four directions — hence the name 'Umong', meaning tunnel. In **1949** the **Suan Phutthatham meditation centre** opened here, modelled on the famous Suan Mokkh monastery. Today it's one of Chiang Mai's quietest places: the monks live among the trees, and visitors stroll the shady paths. ## What to see - **The brick tunnels** beneath the stupa — niches with Buddha images and traces of old murals. - **The stupa** on the mound above the tunnels. - **The 'talking trees'** — proverbs on signs along the paths. - **The pond** with fish, turtles and ducks — you can feed them. - **A field of broken sculptures** and a fasting Buddha statue. - **The library-museum** with books on Buddhism and art objects. ## Entry, hours and rules **Entry is free**, with donation boxes around the grounds. According to guides it's open **by day, roughly 6:00 to 18:00**; there's no official website. It's a working monastery and meditation centre, so it's quiet. **Cover shoulders and knees** and take your shoes off before entering the tunnels and halls. The tunnels are dark and cool — use your phone torch. Keep noise down near meditators. > **Come in the morning** In the morning the forest is cool, the monks go about their day and there are hardly any tourists — the best time for quiet. Fish and turtle food is sold by the pond. If you'd like to meditate, ask at the meditation centre — sessions are held for foreigners. ## How to get to Wat Umong 1. **From the Old City** — about 5 km west, 10–15 minutes by Grab or taxi. 2. **By red songthaew** — agree the fare to Wat Umong. 3. **From Chiang Mai University** — about 1 km south. 4. **From Doi Suthep** — on the way down the mountain, easy to combine. 5. Enter from Soi Wat Umong, then walk through the woods to the tunnels. ## How long do you need? Allow **about an hour** for the tunnels, the stupa and a forest walk. A handy plan: **Doi Suthep** in the morning, Wat Umong on the way back, then the Old City temples. It's a good break from heat and crowds: shade, silence and a pond — a rare combination in a big city. ## Is Wat Umong worth visiting? Yes: the 14th-century tunnels and forest calm make Wat Umong one of Chiang Mai's most unusual temples — and it's free. The YesGo take: the tunnels are small and the murals have nearly faded. For architecture, Wat Chedi Luang is better; for atmosphere and quiet, come here. In the rainy season the woods are full of mosquitoes. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Shoulders and knees covered - [ ] Mosquito repellent - [ ] Phone torch for the tunnels - [ ] Going in the morning - [ ] Same day: Doi Suthep ## Chiang Mai temples: compare and choose Chiang Mai temples rated by YesGo. - [Wat Chiang Man](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/wat-chiang-man) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free - [Wat Umong](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/wat-umong) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free - [Wat Chedi Luang](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/wat-chedi-luang) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ 40–50 baht - [Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple)](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/wat-sri-suphan) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · ≈ 50 baht - [Wat Phra Singh](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/wat-phra-singh) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · grounds free; Lai Kham ≈ 20 baht - [Wat Phra That Doi Suthep](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/doi-suthep) — YesGo score 31/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ 30 baht, funicular ≈ 20 ## A morning at the foot of Doi Suthep Doi Suthep early in the morning, then the forest temple of Wat Umong, and Wat Phra Singh in the Old City by afternoon. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Wat Phra That Doi Suthep](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/doi-suthep) — YesGo score 31/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ 30 baht, funicular ≈ 20 2. [Wat Umong](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/wat-umong) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free 3. [Wat Phra Singh](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/wat-phra-singh) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · grounds free; Lai Kham ≈ 20 baht ## Good to know Wat Umong (Suan Phutthatham) is the forest temple at the foot of Doi Suthep. The small Wat Umong Maha Thera Chan in the Old City is a different place. ## Tips - Shoot in the tunnels without flash — the niches show up well. - The best shot is the tunnel entrance from the platform. - Fish and turtle food is sold by the pond. - Read the proverbs on the 'talking trees'. - On the way: [Doi Suthep](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/doi-suthep) up the mountain. ## Questions ### Is there an entrance fee at Wat Umong? No, entry is free; donations are welcome. ### What are Wat Umong's opening hours? By day, roughly 6:00 to 18:00 (according to guides). ### What are the tunnels at Wat Umong? 14th-century brick tunnels beneath the stupa with niches and Buddha images. ### How do I get to Wat Umong? It's about 5 km from the Old City — 10–15 minutes by Grab. ### Can you meditate here? Yes, a meditation centre has run at the temple since 1949. ### What is the dress code? Shoulders and knees covered. ### How long do you need? About an hour. ### What's nearby? Chiang Mai University and the road up to Doi Suthep. ## How we checked There's no official website. History, the tunnels, the meditation centre and the grounds are from English Wikipedia; in line with YesGo policy we leave out legends about the tunnels' purpose and the period of abandonment under foreign rule. We don't cover the 2024 statue restoration dispute. Hours come from guides and are marked unconfirmed. The 37.5 rai area is converted to ≈ 6 ha. The distance is a 5.3 km OSRM route from Wat Chedi Luang. ## Sources - English Wikipedia — Wat Umong: founding under Mangrai, Sri Lankan monks, tunnels under Kue Na, 1949 meditation centre, area, 'talking trees', pond, library - 2026 travel guides — opening hours (unofficial) - Wikidata Q1369391 — coordinates; OSRM route — distance from the Old City - YesGo general facts for Thailand — payment, transport --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.