Wat Doi Suthep

Whenever I take anyone with me to Chiang Mai I always include a visit to this famous Wat. Its about 10 miles from downtown and located on a mountain top. A new attraction on this visit was an elephant across the road from the Wat. The wat was first established in 1383 and is one of Thailand's most sacred temples.
Gong tower.
Bell tower.
There is a story that the wat was founded by a monk who rode up the mountain on a white elephant.

Temple guards

The famous portrait of the King and Queen and Royal family on the occasion of his 60th year on the throne last year. King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit are in the front. On the next row is the oldest granddaughter, the Crown' Prince's current wife, the Crown Prince's ex-wife (mother of the oldest granddaughter) (He had a commonlaw wife and four sons and a daughter in between but that's another story) Then the King and Queen's three daughters. The one next to the Crown Prince is the one who married the American commoner and was stripped of her royal rank. They are now divorced and she is back in favor. Her son was killed in the Tsunami. They are all wearing yellow because it is the official color of the day of the week when the King was born.

The growns are absolutely fabulous and on clear days there is a wonderful view of Chiang Mai.



Most of the architecture is in the Lanna style. Lanna is the name of the "country" around Chiang Mai before it was annexed by Thailand a few hundred years ago.

The white elephant from the legend.

Jackfruit tree.

This chedi in the Lanna style is one of the holiest in Thailand.
Buddhist worshipers leaving offerings in front of the chedi.

The memorial to the King's sister.

Inside the main temple.

A dancing troupe.







A local band.

Barbara in front of the gong.









There are 306 steps to the top of the mountain. There is also a tram for 20 baht. The first time I came here I climbed the steps and wondered why I was doing it about halfway up.

For 10 baht you can buy watermelon and feed the elephant.