Wat Suan Dok Temple
วัดสวนดอกSee location at Google Maps: Wat Suan Dok
(Suthep Road)
This temple originally lay in a fortified square beyond Chiang Mai walls. Legends tell that King Ku Na invited the venerable Sumana Thera, a very pious monk from Sukhothai to bring the Buddhism of Sri Lanka to Chiang Mai.
Wat Suan Dog, Chiang Mai, ThailandThe King offered him the royal flower garden (Suan Dok) as a place to build a temple. The temple was established in 1371.
When Sumana Thera was living in Sukhothai, he had a vision which showed him where to find a very holy relic that had long been buried near the city. When the relic was unearthed, miraculous illuminations took place confirming its power. These miracles did not repeat themselves for the King of Sukhothai, who left the relic in the care of the monk.
Thus when King Ku Na invited Sumana Thera to Chiang Mai, the monk brought the holy relic with him. When the relic was about to be enshrined at the temple, he found that the relic had split into two pieces. One of these pieces was kept at Wat Suan Dok, and the other was buried at Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep.
The main viharn was rebuilt in the early 1930's by Khru Ba Srivichai. A large Buddha image with a hand in the position for holding straw stands back to back with the main seated image. The images took on their present shape under Khru Ba Srivichai.
Mural, Chiang Mai, ThailandA smaller viharn to the south contains a seated Buddha image - the Phra Chao Kao Tue - cast by King Muang Kaew in 1504. The Lanna style image stands 4.7 meters tall and is made up of nine pieces. The walls of the viharn are decorated with murals showing the previous lives of the Buddha (the Vessantara Jataka may be seen on the upper level of the north wall).
West of the main viharn numerous chedi contain the remains of the royal family of Chiang Mai. These were collected from different sites in Chiang Mai and placed there at the wish of Princess Dararatsmi in 1909. The compound also contains the northern campus of the Maha Chulalongkorn Buddhist University of the Mahanikai sect. A wall with tall ornamental gates surrounds the compound, and the remains of earthen walls that once surrounded the fortified monastery can still be seen on the opposite side of the road.
Indigo Chiang Mai Holidays Rotating Header Image
Wat Suan Dok (”Flower Garden Temple”)
Jan 26th, 2010
by Alice.
Wat Suan Dok, Chiang Mai, sunset
Wat Suan Dok at dusk
Chat to a monk, go on a mediation retreat, learn about the temple’s fascinating history, take a romantic stroll and watch the sunset, or even just relax and enjoy the peace and quiet, eat at a famous (and inexpensive) vegetarian restaurant, Pun Pun…
Suan Dok Temple dates back to the 14th century. Originally, it was was built on what was Chiang Mai’s Royal Family’s flower garden. Today, it’s a functioning temple that as well as a home to a Buddhist university. The university, in fact, opens its doors to visitors keen to learn more about buddhism through the “Monk Chat” program on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings 5-7pm. You can actually talk the monks anything you like - their day to day activities and lifestyle, Thai culture, or even the weather! You never know, you might learn something interesting, and you’ll be helping these monks practice their English too.
While you’re there, don’t forget to look up and enjoy the sunset. Wat Suan Dok reputedly is one of the best places in Chiang Mai to see the sun setting over Doi Suthep Mountain.
Wat Suan Dok also has a fascinating history, with a tale of a holy relic that self-replicated (or, according to other sources, broke in half). One of these was enshrined here at Wat Suan Dok in the main chedi (pagoda), the other was tied to a white royal elephant which was sent loose. Eventually, the elephant found its way up Doi Suthep Mountain, and died. This then became the location of Chiang Mai’s most revered temples, Wat Pratat Doi Suthep, and the other relic is enshrined here.
When you visit Suan Dok Temple, you’ll see smaller white pagodas next to the main golden chedi. These contain ashes of Chiang Mai’s royal family. The temple is not the original “graveyard” of the royalties, however. The remains were collected from various places in the city by request from Princees Dara Rasmi in 1909.
Wat Suan Dok is located on Suthep Road, opposite Chiang Mai University’s Faculty of Dentistry, between the moat and Nimanhaemin Road.
credit: http://www.chiangmai-traveltips.com/wat-suan-dok.htm
http://www.chiangmai1.com/chiang_mai/wat_suan_dok.shtml
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