This temple is situated in Tambon Mae Hia, Amphoe Mueang. It is a beautiful
temple situated on a lush mountainside near Chiang Mai Town. 'Wat Phra That'
refers to the fact that this temple houses relics of the Buddha, and 'Doi Kham'
means 'Golden Mountain’. The sacred temple was built more than 1300 years ago,
in 687 A.D. It had been abandoned, but in 1966 villagers discovered a hidden
chamber containing many ancient Buddha images of various sizes, and this find
prompted a revitalization.
There is an interesting folktale about Lord
Buddha visiting this temple and meeting a rakshasa (demon) family who tried to
eat him. Lord Buddha conquered them by sending them his kindness, which they
could not stand. The rakshasa family eventually converted, revering our Lord
Buddha, and also gave up consuming human flesh.
Removed at some distance
from the temple itself, an enormous white pearl Buddha statue is strikingly
placed amidst the mountain greenery. On the temple grounds, chedis (pagodas)
enshrine Buddha relics. Stairs carved in the form of white nagas (mythical
water serpents) lead to a calm and quiet lookout point which offers a panoramic
view of Chiang Mai. Visitors may revel in the crisp fresh air and marvel at the
picturesque splendour of the valley spread out before them. In addition, the
lookout point boasts a beautifully carved wooden pavillion decorated with
hanging bells tinkling in the breeze. The temple complex is a favorite fly-by
for airplanes on their way to Chiang Mai Airport.
Getting
There: From Chiang Mai Town, take the road paralleling Khlong
Chonlaprathan (irrigation canal), cross the canal when you reach the sign 'to
Mae Hia', and then take the road up the mountain to Phra That Doi Kham.
Energetic visitors may want to walk up the stairs to the mountaintop.
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