Thailand Wat Chedi Luang

11 images 2 contributors Shoot with care

Sue Wolfe

Shoot with care
If you go inside, respectful attire is required. The dress code says knees and shoulders must be covered.

About this spot
In Chiang Mai’s historic center sits Wat Chedi Luang (Temple of the Big Stupa). Construction started in the 14th century and finished by the mid-15th century during the reign of King Tilokaraj. There were originally 3 temples on the grounds but eventually they were merged into one.

When the temple was finished it reached 82 meters high making it the largest structure in Chiang Mai. An earthquake in 1545 collapsed the top 30 meters of the temple. It was at this time the Emerald Buddha was taken from the eastern niche and moved to Luang Prabang in Laos. The Emerald Buddha was relocated from temple to temple until 1784 when it was finally brought to the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

The staircases are flanked by mythical Naga serpents—a wealthy underworld deity. On the platform are five stone elephants—four are reproductions, but the elephant on the far right is the original brick and stucco.

A project, financed by Thailand’s Fine Arts Department, UNESCO, and the Japanese government, began in the 1990s. The goal was to stabilize the temple to prevent further deterioration. The restorers stopped short of finishing the spire, as nobody could agree what it should look like. The restoration was not without controversy. Some feel elements of Central Thai architecture crept in. Others prefer how it looked before the reconstruction—overgrown with vegetation.

For the 600th anniversary a copy of the Emerald Buddha, made from black jade, was placed in the reconstructed eastern niche.

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