Wat Phra Singh
Wat Phra Singh (the Monastery of the lion) is the major temple for Lanna art and architecture.It was built in1345 by King Pa Yo. The Thai word Singh means lion and refers to the characterization of the gilded bronze of the Buddha. The original was brought from Sri Lanka and is a model style for other images in Lanna. Every year, during the Songkran festival, the statue is taken from Viharn Lai Kham and carried through the streets of Chiang Mai in a religious procession during which the spectators honour the statue by sprinkling water over it.
The library or Ho Trai built in 1477 is regarded as a jewel of Lanna architecture. It has excellent stucco with figures and intricate patterns decorating the lower portion with red and gold wood work surmounting it also ornately carved with inlay embellishments.
The Viharn Lai Kham is the wat's major attraction. Constructed in traditional teak it is a beautiful example of Lanna or northern Thai architecture, with its low walls and winged three-tiered roofline. The portico has very finely carved gables.
Lai Kham refers to the “gold-patterning” of the highly decorated façade that magically catches the eastern morning light. Inside the viharn, realistically painted murals on the walls document the daily life of the people of Lanna in the 19th century. Other murals depict fables of the jataka story.
Contact details:
Within the old city walls. On the corner of Singharat and Ratchadamnoen Road. Chiang Mai
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