Wat Phra Singh Woramahaviharn (วัดพระสิงห์วรมหาวิหาร) is one of Chiang Mai’s most famous and sacred temples thanks to the Phra Buddha Sihing statue it enshrines. Built in 1345 and fully restored in 2002, it’s a beautiful temple complex with striking examples of Lanna architecture.
The Viharn Luang (assembly hall)
The first building you’ll see is the Viharn Luang, rebuilt on the site of the original, abandoned viharn (assembly hall) in 1925. This houses another Buddha statue, Phra Chao Thong Tip, which was cast in gold and copper in 1477.
I visited early in the morning, but as you can see from the photo above, the heat and humidity fogged up my lens anyway!
Hor Trai (temple library)
Then you might see the Hor Trai (or Ho Trai), the temple library built in 1346–1347 that contains ancient Buddhist scriptures. It was restored in 1933 and is considered one of the most beautiful temple libraries in Thailand, which is no surprise! I’m forever impressed by how beautifully restored Thailand’s temples are (and how stunning they are anyway). The guards along the stairs are lions springing from the mouths of sea creatures called Makara.
The ubosot (ordination hall)
A temple’s ubosot is where monks and nuns are ordained. This one was built in 1806 and contains a replica of the Emerald Buddha that Bangkok’s Grand Palace is famous for.
Viharn Lai Kham
The Viharn Lai Kham was built when the Phra Buddha Sihing statue arrived – and the temple, previously named Wat Li Chiang Phra, got its new name – in 1345. During Songkran, the statue is carried around Chiang Mai while people sprinkle water over it to honour it. Despite that, whether or not it’s the real one is debatable. There are two others that claim to be the real thing – one in Bangkok and another in Nakhon Si Thammarat. It’s also rumoured that even if this is the real one, its head was stolen and had to be replaced in 1922.
The Phrathatluang (main chedi)
The Phrathatluang was built in 1345 to enshrine the ashes of King Pha Yu’s father. It has been enlarged since and got its gold coating recently. You’ll see elephants emerging from its base.
The Kulai chedi
The Kulai chedi was built by King Mueangkaeo in the 15th century. It was restored in 1813, when a box of ancient relics was found. They are once again contained in the chedi.
The reclining Buddha
The reclining Buddha can be admired through the windows of a small, often-overlooked pavilion at the back of the complex. It was crafted in 1551 and has been restored a few times since, most recently in 2011. His serene expression is calming to see.
The Ho Rakang (belfry)
The bell is rung to announce mealtimes, events and rising in the morning.
The grounds
Like most Thai temples, the grounds are immaculate and beautiful.
Fun fact: There’s a Wat Phra Singh in a former hotel in Runcorn, England! It’s a branch of the temple in Thailand and five Thai monks currently live there. They run regular meditation courses for anyone to attend. I’m quite tempted to go and try it!
Wat Phra Singh was the first attraction I visited in Chiang Mai after flying in from Bangkok. The temple was amazing and everything, but I was shocked to find as many scammers inside and outside as there were around the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. As soon as I arrived, it was ‘Hello madame! Where are you from?’ Hello darkness, my old friend. One guy followed me around the temple, claiming he was a teacher at the school there (yeah, I bet you are, mate) and telling me how great the (scam) tours are. When I left, another tuktuk driver tried to convince me I’d die of heatstroke if I didn’t take his tour (I didn’t get heatstroke). A few minutes later, another tuktuk stopped and offered me the same (scam) tour. He realised I had his number and asked me not to be angry because everyone is desperate after the pandemic. OK. Whatever. It was kind of funny at this point. Anyway, don’t let that put you off. If you’re too polite to ignore them (like me), just firmly turn them down.
How to get to Wat Phra Singh
Address: 2 Samlarn Rd, Phra Sing, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50280, Thailand
Wat Phra Singh is in Chiang Mai’s Old City, so it’s within walking distance of all attractions and hotels there. Google Maps is your friend! If you don’t have internet access, download offline maps and mark all the places you want to see before you leave. Your GPS will still work.
Nearby attractions
- Suan Dok Gate (0.2 mi/290 m)
- Wat Chedi Luang (0.4 mi/700 m)
- Wat Lok Moli (0.6 mi/950 m)
- Wat Chiang Man (0.7 mi/1.2 km)
- Silver Temple/Wat Sri Suphan (0.8 mi/1.3 km)
- Wat Nantaram (1.3 mi/2.1 km)
Atlas and a Camera 