Wat Phra Singh

Wat Phra Singh

Chiang Rai was founded by King Mengrai in 1262.  Wat Phra Singh was built just over a century later in 1385 and is one of the oldest temples in Chiang Rai,

The temple grounds consist of a viharn, chapel with a footprint of The Buddha, the monks living quarters (Kuti), and the main structure which is a Lanna style ubosot.

The viharn is also of Lanna style with a multi-tiered roof and Naga decorated bargeboards.  The viharns entrance stairs are guarded on each side by :Singha” (gold and white lion figures).  The facade panels and the doors are carved with motifs of Lanna flowers and celestial beings, or Thewada figures.  To the left and right above the doors are peacock figures.  Inside the viharn, the walls are decorated with murals and facing the building entrance is a gold plated Phra Singh image that is a copy of the original image.

The Phra Singh Buddha image is one of Thailand’s most revered Buddha images and was once housed at this temple.  There are now several copies of the Phra Singh Buddha image housed here including a gold on ebony image and another made of purple jade.  The original image can now be found at Wat Phra Singh in Chiang Mai.

Also on the temple grounds is the Pali language school.  Pali is the language used in the Tripitaka or Buddhist scriptures,  The entrance to this building has large ornate white gates with stuccoed Thewada figures and Naga serpents.