Wat Suan Dok in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai Monuments and Historic Buildings: Wat Suan Dok
Wat Suan Dok is situated on the west side of old Chiang Mai on the Suthep Road. The name of the temple roughly translates to ‘Field Of Flowers’. The legend says that the temple was built in the 14th-century by King Keu Na of Lanna, as a place of rain-retreat for a revered monk.
There are many unique features about this temple. The Wiharn, or prayer hall, is one of them. Not only it is huge in size, it is also open on the sides rather than being totally enclosed.
Several Buddha images of various size are on display here with one large standing Buddha image. A smaller Wiharn to the south houses a sitting Buddha image.
West from this Wiharn, there are dozens and dozens of white chedis. Ashes of many from the Royal Family are contained within these stupas. The largest one to the South, however, houses a Buddhist relic.