Visit Wat Phra That Doi Kham, one of the most iconic landmarks in all of Thailand, comprising an enormous Buddha statue and a temple dating back to the 7th century. Perched gracefully on a mountain, the 56 foot (17 meter) tall statue is accompanied by a host of ornate sculptures and relics representing Buddhist deities and symbols.
Trek along the paths meandering through the dense and exotic forest that contains the statue. Once here, climb up the hill and reach the base of the steps leading to this immense Buddha image. It has a mudra posture of “Calling the Earth to Witness” featuring crossed legs and a straight back. Marvel at the large warrior statues at its base.
Head to the main section of the temple and notice the colorful sculptures of serpents that appear to guard the stairs. Gaze up at the impressive chedi pagoda that was constructed in 687 and contains an ornate golden relic of Buddha. The chedi collapsed in 1966 and was later restored.
In the temple courtyard, admire the green columns embellished with golden floral patterns surrounding it. See locals making use of the prayer boxes in this serene compound. For an memorable experience, pick up a stick and strike one of the huge gongs.
Note that the site’s name is Thai for Golden Mountain Temple. The compound opens daily from early morning until late afternoon and is free to enter.
Wat Phra That Doi Kham is in the middle of a forest, on the northwestern outskirts of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. From the city center, drive northwest for 8.5 miles (13.7 kilometers) to reach this spot in the Mae Hia district in roughly 30 minutes. While in the area, plan to visit nearby sites such as the Royal Park Rajapruek, the Grand Pavilion and Wat Suan Prig.
