Wat Sri Suphan is a Lanna-style Buddhist temple that was nicknamed the Silver Temple, thanks to the impressive silver decorations that cover the structure and also star inside the main hall. The sight of the temple catches the eye from a distance, with the reflection of the sun on the silver. The place was also crowned as the first temple in the world made of silver. Wat Sri Suphan is indeed a historical temple, but large parts of it have been renovated and even built in recent years.
The entire temple is covered in silver and each of the decorations - from the floor to the roof and each of the walls - are all handmade and carved with Buddhist figures. This use of money is not accidental. Wat Sri Suphan was established around the year 1500 as the central temple of a village where most of the inhabitants were engaged in silver work. It was not originally built with silver plating, but as time passed and repairs were needed, they were made using the precious metal.
In 2008 it was decided to cover the entire temple with silver and this was done by the people of that village, with professional knowledge passed down from generation to generation. The interior of the temple also does not spare silver works but also incorporates more modern elements such as lighting fixtures. The cost of the renovation project reached about one million dollars.
An important thing to consider before visiting Wat Sri Suphan - women are not allowed to enter the main hall in the temple, for religious reasons. This is in contrast to other temples in the area.
Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday there are open conversations with monks. You can ask them questions about Buddhism and life in the monastery and they will be happy to answer you and practice their English. The talks start at 5:7 in the evening and continue until about XNUMX. You can also try meditation classes for beginners with the monks. These meetings are free, but modest donations are welcome.
The area around the temple is full of workshops that produce silver products and artefacts. If you are interested in looking or even purchasing a souvenir, you can visit the shops and workshops and watch the artists at work.
The place is open to visitors every day between 6 am and 6 pm.
