Wat Suan Duc is an ancient temple founded in 1373 and the literal interpretation of the name is "temple of the flower garden". The place got its name thanks to the site on which it was built - the royal flower garden of the ruler of Chiang Mai. This temple is known, among other things, for its many chedis (stupas), with the largest being in the Sri Lankan style and according to belief, the remains of Buddha were buried there.
In fact, the temple was founded when a monk found a bone that he believed to be the Buddha's shoulder bone and the entire temple was built to be a place where the leader's remains would receive a dignified burial. According to tradition, when the bone arrived in Chiang Mai it miraculously split into two pieces and the smaller one was buried at Wat Suan Duc.
This beautiful temple also serves as a mausoleum for other major figures. You will be able to identify it easily due to its bright white color, which can be seen from far away and stands out even in satellite images. In the mausoleum, buildings in the style of Lana and members of the royal family, the rulers of the city and Francia were buried there. You can walk among the graves and you don't even need to take off your shoes.
The main hall of Wat Suan Duc is beautiful and impressive, but it is also different in design. It was rebuilt in the 20s and while most of these halls are closed buildings, this one is semi-open. As usual, inside you will find two central Buddha statues. The first is sitting in a meditation position while the second figure is standing. There are other Buddha statues in the place.
The central prayer room, decorated entirely in gold and red colors, you can see an impressive 4.7 meter tall Buddha statue that almost touches the ceiling. As is customary in temples, the place also has a chedi. At Wat Suan Doc, the chedi is golden and reaches a height of almost 50 meters.
If you are interested in meditation or want to learn a little about Buddhism, there is also a meditation center. You can also come to one of the conversations held with the monks, ask questions and hear a bit about their experiences. The on-site study includes a short lesson on the basic principles of meditation. These classes are held in English.
Wat Suan Doc is open every day from 6 am to 5 pm. Entrance to the place is free.
