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Wat Suan Dok

A visitor could spend forever visiting all the temples in Chiang Mai. There are some 373 of them within Amphoe Muang alone; 51 inside the moat and others scattered around from atop Suthep Mountain all the way to the outskirts of town. However, while almost everyone of them has one or more features that make them visit-worthy, some definitely are a must on most visitors' itineraries. Here are some that shouldn't be missed:

Wat Suan Dok ('Flower Garden' Temple) was built in 1371. Officially named Wat Bupparam, it is located on a piece of land that was a royal garden in the early years of the Lanna Kingdom.

Unusual in some of its structural details - as, for example, the open-sided vihara with its massive bronze Buddha image and large round-based stupas outside - it is recognised as being an outstanding example of Lanna architecture. Near the entrance on the Suthep Road is the royal cemetary in which the remains of the former rulers of the Lanna Kingdom are interred, and in which an interment was carried out for a prince of the former royal house a couple of years back. Wat Suan Dok is also the campus of the northern branch of the Monks’ University.

Other temples of interest are, for example, Wat Ched Yod, Wat Chiang Man, Wat Phra Singh, Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, Wat U-Mong, and Wat Loke Molee.