Tour to Wat Phra Singh Chiang Mai

Wat Phra Singh extraordinary insight into the Buddhist way of life

Chiangmai's mainly honored wat, Wat Phra Singh attracts  pilgrims and holidaymaker for its dweller Lord buddha and its vintage Lanna art and architecture. Voyager should dress gently.

Phra Singh temple (Lion Buddha), the temple's illustrious sculpture, is housed in Wihan Lai Kham, a small sanctuary to the back of the wat grounds next to the stupa (pagoda). The building brags a Lanna-style three-tiered roof and carved triangular end of a roof. Inside are stately lai·krahm (gold-pattern stencilling) and painting despite Phra Singh's glorious status, very little is really known about the statue. It is consider one of essentially the most beautiful specimen of Lanna religious drawing thanks to its thick human-like features and lotus-shaped topknot. Because you will find two nearly identical image in Nakhon Si Thammarat and Bangkok, no one knows if this is the real one, nor can any person document its place of origin. Unreflecting, this Phra Singh image came to reside here around the 1360s, and is now a fixture in the religious ceremonies of the Songkran festival.

Phra Singh temple was created in 1345 by King Pha Yu for the ashes of his faher, King Kham Fu. It may have been the primary monastery to house the Emerald Lord buddha, which later resided in Chidi Luang temple and is now enshrined in Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok. The wat is named for the Lord buddha image it housed in 1367, the Phra Singh (Lion Lord buddha). The wat-monastery knock down into disrepair as Chiang Mai's population declined in the 18th century, but restoration began in the early 19th century under Chao Kawila. The labor continued under his successor, Chao Thammalangka, who commissioned the art work in Viharn Lai Kham.

What to See at Phra Singh temple

Viharn Luang
The biggest construction in the temple is the Viharn Luang. The original viharn was constructed towards the end of the 14th century, but was replaced by the current construction in 1925. This spectacular viharn houses a very highly revered Lord buddha image named Phra Chao Thong Tip. This gold and copper sculpture of a seated Lord buddha was cast in 1477.

Viharn Lai Kham
constructed in 1345, and renovated in early 19th Century, the Lai Kam assembly hall at Phra Singh temple is a fine example of Lanna wat buildings. It features soaring wing-shaped roofs and lavish wood carvings and stuccos throughout. Inside, it houses Phra Singh (Lion Lord buddha), the highly venerated Lord buddha image showcasing the graceful ‘Lion’ style, believed to be influenced by Sukhothai and Indian Pala styles. Every Songkran, Chiangmai locals would invite Phra Singh in a ceremonial parade around the town’s main roads for the bathing ritual. Other interesting features inside Lai Kam assembly hallway include the wall art work depicting scenes from the local way of life and favorite folklore tales and the delicately gilded round columns, windows and wall panel behind Phra Singh.

Ho Trai 
The little monastic library (1477) has a sandstone base to protect inestimable manuscripts from deluge and pest. It is decorated with devata or thewada (Buddhist spirit) figures in high relief. You can find also several pagoda on the wat grounds, the largest one dating from 1345 and enlarged considerably since.

Phra Singh Buddha
The Phra Sihing or Phra Singh Lord buddha statue is considered furthermore elegant. 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" statue, that  come from the Pala school in Bodhgaya, India. Every year on April 13, Songkran Day, the images is paraded on Chiangmai streets for native people to spraying perfumed water at.

This is one of top essential wat in the walled city at the core of Chiangmai. The buildings are stunning, most of all the ho tray (library) on the top of a steep staircase. One of the most important buildings houses some very beautifull murals.

Getting There : Positioned inside the old city wall, at the western end of Ratchadamnoen Road, the temple’s signature Lanna-style roofs and glittering viharn (assembly hall) invite voyager. For a great one day guided tour that includes a visit to Wat Phra Singh please see Chiang Mai Tours

Cost & opening time : The wat usually is open every day from 6 am until 5 pm. Entrance ticket is free.