Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep

Temple Thailand, Thailand

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is a Theravada wat in Chiang Mai Province. The temple is often referred to as "Doi Suthep" although this is actually the name of the mountain where it's located. It is a sacred site to many Thai people. The temple is 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) from the city of Chiang Mai. From the temple, impressive views of Chiang Mai can be seen. In terms of the impressive temple, construction on Wat Doi Suthep began in 1386 and according to popular legend, the temple was built to hold a piece of bone from the Buddha’s shoulder. One of those bones was mounted on a sacred white elephant (an important symbol in Thailand) who then climbed Doi Suthep mountain and stopped near the peak. After trumpeting three times, the elephant laid down and gently passed away in the jungle. The place where he lay is now the site of where Doi Suthep’s temple was founded.