Wat Suan Dok
Wat Suan Dok
4.5
About
Temple built on what were once a 14th-century monarch's gardens. Today, site of a Buddhist university and a popular spot for photographers, especially during sunset. Some of the temple's chedis (spires) contain ashes of Chiang Mai's royal family. Also, one can see half of a holy Buddhist relic brought from Sukothai in 1371, which unfortunately split into two upon arrival in Chiang Mai. The other half is buried at Doi Suthep. A 500-year-old bronze Buddha image, one of the largest in northern Thailand, is also housed here, in the small hall at the back of the compound.
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4.5
915 reviews
Excellent
471
Very good
349
Average
89
Poor
5
Terrible
1
worldnomad_01
Los Angeles, CA1,597 contributions
May 2022
Although located in a quite busy part of the city, the temple is quiet and interesting. The white chedis next to the golden pagoda contain the ashes of various members of the royal family. The temple is built on the site of a 14th century royal garden and is well worth a visit...
Written 5 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Siwarit
Bangkok, Thailand200 contributions
Feb 2024 • Solo
It has the pagoda with outstanding beauty what was built in 1916, in Lanka-Sukhothai style. It has served as a burial ground for the Lanna royal family (white stupas). If you have spare time from Old Quarter of Chiangmai, you can visit this temple.
Written 23 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leonhkny
Hong Kong, China21,028 contributions
Sept 2023 • Family
Wat Suan Dok is one among a plethora of Buddhist temples in Chiang Mai. The collection of white chedi, although getting dated, is the main highlight. The main temple is equally impressive. Unfortunately the main stupa is under renovation. Admission required for entry into the main temple.
Written 22 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pincaboo
Miami, FL26 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
Best time to visit this Wat is first thing in the morning.
The lighting is so beautiful here and there was absolutely no one around. We got to enjoy the entire place to ourselves.
Right in front of the temple there was a couple making what seem to be like honey glazed doughnuts holes and some with some kind of warm goat milk. It was extremely delicious
It was different from all the other wat we had visited during our stay.
The lighting is so beautiful here and there was absolutely no one around. We got to enjoy the entire place to ourselves.
Right in front of the temple there was a couple making what seem to be like honey glazed doughnuts holes and some with some kind of warm goat milk. It was extremely delicious
It was different from all the other wat we had visited during our stay.
Written 12 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NiceGringo
Miami Beach, FL240 contributions
Apr 2013 • Couples
We rented the Segway at 4pm and rode thru the old city and asked our guides to take us to Wat Suan Dok at 5pm so we could pray and listen to the Monks chant. I got a nice video on my Iphone of the whole experience. But Monks tend to chant at all the monastery at around 5 pm. But this one was very special because it is the oldest one in Chaing Mai. We got a blessing from a senior Monk and was able to write a special prayer. The whole experience of Chiang Mia had made me realize that I wasted a huge amount of time staying in Bangkok. My next visit to Thailand, when I fly into Hong Kong, rather they fly to Bangkok, i will take Dragonair, non stop to Chang Mai instead.
Written 10 May 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chang Percy
Taipei, Taiwan505 contributions
Jan 2023
This large temple is located not far away from the old city. The façade is intricate and well decorated. The vihara is splendid and spacious. The ambience is quiet and clean.
Written 7 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
P Thornstrom
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia176 contributions
Jan 2020
Wat Suan Dok, also known as Wat Buppharam is a Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai. The temple is on Suthep Road, approximately one kilometer west of Suan Dok gate at the west side of the moat (Google).
I visited a lot of temples and this is one those you have to see and visit.
I visited a lot of temples and this is one those you have to see and visit.
Written 11 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dan Maarek
Tel Aviv, Israel16,000 contributions
Nov 2018
We were in Chiang Mai for 5 days last November for Yi Peng (Flying Lantern Festival) and Loy Krathong (Floating Lantern Festival).
We had planned a 3 day Temple circuit in the Old City so of course we had pin pointed the most famous ones in the Old City like Wat Chedi Luang Varavihara and Wat Phra Singh which are amazing.
There are other beautiful Temples outside the Old City like of course Doi Suthep which is rather far, but other closer, like this one deserve your attention
It is spread on a wide area but what makes it special is its interior,it is especially worth the trip.
It can't be called a hidden gems as it is famous, still there were no tourists at all when we visited it, in the late afternoon, which made it much more enjoyable.
I have attached several pictures, hoping to give kind of a feeling of this place
It is indeed, as so many Temples in Thailand, and in Chiang Mai in particular, a beautiful, serene island of peace
Now please do pay attention:
Don't be careless (as we were) and make sure your cab or Tuktuk is waiting for you there to get back to the City Center and the Old City.
If you grabbed one and let it go away (like us) instead of waiting for you, this might not be such a good idea as it will be difficult to get one back.
A few baths will be a good investment to guarantee your way back promptly with no precious time wasted waiting.
We had to wait a lot until a tuktuk finally appeared and "agreed" to take us back to the center.
We had planned a 3 day Temple circuit in the Old City so of course we had pin pointed the most famous ones in the Old City like Wat Chedi Luang Varavihara and Wat Phra Singh which are amazing.
There are other beautiful Temples outside the Old City like of course Doi Suthep which is rather far, but other closer, like this one deserve your attention
It is spread on a wide area but what makes it special is its interior,it is especially worth the trip.
It can't be called a hidden gems as it is famous, still there were no tourists at all when we visited it, in the late afternoon, which made it much more enjoyable.
I have attached several pictures, hoping to give kind of a feeling of this place
It is indeed, as so many Temples in Thailand, and in Chiang Mai in particular, a beautiful, serene island of peace
Now please do pay attention:
Don't be careless (as we were) and make sure your cab or Tuktuk is waiting for you there to get back to the City Center and the Old City.
If you grabbed one and let it go away (like us) instead of waiting for you, this might not be such a good idea as it will be difficult to get one back.
A few baths will be a good investment to guarantee your way back promptly with no precious time wasted waiting.
We had to wait a lot until a tuktuk finally appeared and "agreed" to take us back to the center.
Written 12 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
D.A.Wagner
Brooklyn, NY123 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
This is a beautiful Wat inside and out, but the surrounding grounds are full of chedi (or stupa if you prefer), which make this an interesting visit visually. Although the chedi were roped off due to repairs, we were able to walk through. The workers didn't seem to mind our presence.
Written 26 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joanna Lane Simm
Dubai, United Arab Emirates62 contributions
July 2018 • Friends
A number of the temples host 'Monk Chat' where Buddhist monks wanting to practice their English will wait at a table for anyone who visits them. We went to Monk Chat at Wat Suan Dok and met five young monks from Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.
We could ask anything we wanted and learned a lot about their day-to-day lives as a monk, Buddhism and a brief chat about the World Cup football!!
We were a bit star struck and wish we had written down some questions we had before we went as we kept thinking of things we wanted to know afterwards.
Highly recommend going along!
We could ask anything we wanted and learned a lot about their day-to-day lives as a monk, Buddhism and a brief chat about the World Cup football!!
We were a bit star struck and wish we had written down some questions we had before we went as we kept thinking of things we wanted to know afterwards.
Highly recommend going along!
Written 10 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How can I sign up for a day retreat?
I can't find information.
Thank you
Written 3 October 2018
The phone at Wat Suan Dok is 66 53278304. The activity most often experienced by tourists is called MONK CHAT, I still am unsure about day retreats. Wat Umong and Wat Pha Lat are meditation temples in quieter neighborhoodsbut except for hotel and package tours, I am unaware of any retreats in the City.
Written 8 October 2018
Hola, he leÃdo que los viernes de 9 a 16 se hace un curso de iniciación a la meditación. Sabéis si se sigue haciendo, precio etc? Muchas gracias! :)
Written 24 April 2018
Il faut également signaler que la vision des décollages des avions passant au-dessus du temple (mais assez haut pour ne pas être gênants) est impressionnante et fait un saisissant contraste avec le temple lui-même (de belles photos en perspective)..
Written 21 February 2018
Bonjour,
Je n'ai pas vu d'avion le jour de notre visite.
De toutes les façons, l’aéroport de Chiang Mai n'est pas un très grand aéroport.
Le temple est sur une colline et l'aéroport est en contrebas dans la vallée. Il n'y a pas de risque.
Et comme vous dites cela mêle tradition et modernité.
Written 22 February 2018
Olá Alexandre, onde posso ter informações sobre o retiro, seria na hora que chegar ou com antecedência?
Written 4 January 2018
I think Wat Suan Dok refer the "Retreat" guests to Wat Umong, which isn't far away. I can't include the link in this reply, but you can find wat Umong easily on google and then view their website which has contact pages.
Hope this helps you
Written 9 January 2018
Hello there. Wat Suan Dok has a Monk Chat Monday - Friday, 5-7p.m. It's free, but do put something in the donation box facing the entrance, or offer an envelope. It's a great experience to learn a little about Buddhism, and is very popular. You will probably be with other people around the table and usually, several monks participate. Prepare some questions. The monks can be seen in, and around the temple from early morning, they often sit under the shade near Pun Pun cafe.
Have a wonderful time, this is a beautiful temple, with an incredible mausoleum.
Written 19 September 2017
Will I be ok wearing a maxi skirt and scarf round my shoulders here? I have heard they are strict with what women wear...
Written 24 December 2016
This one is less formal. I have worn shorts and a golf shirt.....I don't think beach ware is liked anywhere in CM, but is still tolerated. A few shirtless were taken to the police station last year.
Written 24 February 2017
701audrey
Annecy, France
bsr de votre île peut on aller visiter les autres aux alentours ? merci..
Written 2 February 2015
C est un ensemble de temples dans le nord de la thailande a chiang mai.il n y a pas d îles dans le nord!
Written 3 February 2015
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