Buddhism plays an important role in the lives of nearly every resident of Thailand, so it should come as no surprise that the southeast Asian country is home to some of the most impressive Buddhist temples in the world. Among the most well-known is the Doi Suthep temple, which has been an important part of the country for hundreds of years.
Though there's no confirmed date for when it was constructed, most estimates place the completion of the temple at sometime in the late 1300s. Since then it has become a popular adventure travel destination in addition to its place as a sacred religious site for many Thai residents.
The first thing visitors will notice upon reaching Doi Suthep is its immense bright gold chedi. It stands at a modest 52 feet tall, but the gold, combined with the elaborate murals depicting important parts of Buddha's life make it a truly breathtaking site.
The structure itself may be the most instantly-recognizable aspect of the sacred site, but once visitors have been there long enough they'll soon realize it also offers a beautiful view of the city of Chiang Mai, which is considered a staple of northern Thailand.
Once visitors have left Doi Suthep, they should head to Chiang Mai to check out some of the other famous temples in the city. Wat Chiang Man, for instance, is located within the city limits and although it may not be as eye grabbing as Doi Suthep, it is no less impressive. For starters, it is the city's oldest temple and dates back to 1296. It also holds an important place in the history of the city, and was even home to its founder for a short period of time.
Doi Suthep temple one of many breathtaking sites in northern Thailand
Posted on Friday, July 13th, 2012
