Wat Phra Singh wonderful wat overlooking the town of Chiang Mai
Wat Phra Singh ticks all the wat boxes in reality nice-looking grounds perfect of old trees, some old bits, new bits, Lanna-style worshipping halls, a important Lord buddha images, a reclining Buddha, jade Buddha and gold Buddhas, giant stupa, ‘saffron-robed’ monks, a ‘monk chat’, murals, suffrage flags and last but not least, sticky rice and ice cream in the car park.
Phra Singh temple is also known as “The Monastery of the Lion Lord buddha” or “The wat of the Lion Lord buddha” is an active temple, with hundreds of monks and novices living there. The Phra Singh temple houses a number of highly revered and very old Buddha images. The Phra Singh temple dates back to the 14th century when Chiangmai was the capital of the Lanna Kingdom, and is one of the finest model of traditional Lanna style temple architecture in Northern Thailand. The wat grounds have a number of traditional Lanna style structures. Between Songkran festival in April when traditional Asian new year is celebrated the Phra Singh sculpture is carried through the streets of Chiang Mai during that native people can defer the images by sprinkling water over it.
Wat Phra Singh was created in 1345 by Ruler Pha Yu for the ashes of his faher, King Kham Fu. It may have been the initially monastery to house the Emerald Buddha, which later resided in Chidi Luang temple and is now enshrined in Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok. The temple is named for the Lord buddha images it housed in 1367, the Phra Singh (Lion Buddha). The wat-monastery destroy into disrepair as Chiang Mai's population declined in the 18th century, but restoration began in the early 19th century under Chao Kawila. The work continued under his inheritor, Chao Thammalangka, who commissioned the murals in Viharn Lai Kham.
Phra Singh temple points of interest
Viharn Luang
The largest structure in the wat is the Viharn Luang. The original viharn was created towards the end of the 14th century, but was replaced by the current structure in 1925. This impressive viharn houses a very highly venerated Buddha images named Phra Chao Thong Tip. This gold and copper statue of a seated Lord buddha was cast in 1477.
Viharn Lai Kham
A smaller assembly hall, the charming Viharn Lai Kham (Gilded hallway), was created around 1345 and innovate in the early 19th century. It is considered a fine example of Lanna monastic architecture. Inside is Phra Singh (the Lion Buddha), an original 14th-century treasure except for the head (that was stolen in 1922). The walls are covered in murals (dating from the 1820s) illustrating Jataka tales and other memories. The round pillars and the wall behind the Buddhas are ornamented in red-and-gold designs. Vertical to Viharn Lai Kham is the ubosot, built in 1806. The fecund decoration on its triangular end of a roof consist of abstract mandala patterns. Inside is an magnificent ku (Lord buddha throne).
Ho Trai
The Haw Trai (wat library) is another magnificent structure which has Buddhist scriptures. It is located on the left of Viharn Lai Kam . It is assumed to have been made at the end of 15th century. This construction shows unquestionable evidence of the very highly skilled handicraft of this period. worthy noting specially are the stucco figures of Thai celestial characters around the walls.
Phra Singh Buddha
The Phra Sihing or Phra Singh Buddha images is considered principally sophisticated. It is one of a rare series of "lion" style images. The features of this design are said to be similar to those of a lost "Lion of Sakyas" image, which come from the Pala school in Bodhgaya, India. Every year on April 13, Songkran Day, the statue is paraded on Chiang Mai streets for native people to watering odorous water at.
Wat Phra Singh is one of the best essential temple in the walled city at the heart of Chiangmai. The structures are gorgeous, most of all the ho tray (library) on the top of a steep staircase. One of the most important buildings houses some very beautifull drawing.
The Wat Phra Singh is situated in the old walled city centre of Chiang Mai. The main door is at the end of Ratchadamnoen road. Also in the old walled city and at walking distance are the Chidi Luang temple and the Chiang Man temple.
The temple complex is open every day from 6 am to 5 pm. Entrance ticket is free.
