Phrathat Chedi Luang

Wat Phrathat Chedi Luang, in the old walled town of Chiang Saen, holds the largest Lanna-style bell-shaped chedi in the district — an 88-metre brick tower on a roughly 24-metre octagonal base. Built around 1344 by Phaya Saen Phu, grandson of Lanna’s founding king Mangrai, the temple is free to enter and open daily 8am to 4:30pm.

Experience

The chedi’s tiered base has a lotus-petal profile rising from an octagonal plinth — the defining shape of early Lanna religious architecture. In front of it, the ruined Wihan Luang was once a large brick hall with rounded columns; today only the base, the rear wall and one front column survive, roofed over to protect what’s left. Inside stands the temple’s principal Buddha image, Phra Chiang Saen Singha 1, next to Phra Phuttha U-Khot in the Subduing Mara pose. Scattered across the grounds are several smaller ruined chedis, sandstone Buddha images, the base of a bronze Buddha figure, votive tablets, and stucco celestial-guardian faces recovered during restoration work.

Atmosphere & Timing

This is a genuine archaeological site rather than a rebuilt showpiece — expect brick foundations and partial walls alongside the one intact structure, the chedi itself. It sits next to the Chiang Saen National Museum, making the two a natural pairing on a walk through the old town.

Practical

Chiang Saen town lies in Chiang Rai province, on the Golden Triangle route. The temple has no set entry fee and no dress-code enforcement beyond the usual temple etiquette (covered shoulders and knees).

Insider Tip: Visit the Chiang Saen National Museum first — its exhibits on the town’s Lanna-era history make the ruined Wihan Luang and scattered Buddha images at the temple much easier to place in context.

Watch out: Don’t confuse this with Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Mai city — a separate, far more visited temple. If a guide or driver describes gold-leaf-covered elephant statues or Chiang Mai’s city pillar shrine, they mean the wrong temple.

Getting There

Wat Phrathat Chedi Luang is located in Chiang Saen, Chiang Rai province, next to Chiang Saen National Museum. View on Google Maps. Wat Phrathat Chom Kitti, another Chiang Saen-era temple, is a short drive away.

For further details, contact Wat Phrathat Chedi Luang on (66) 5377 7044 or the Wiang Subdistrict Administrative Organisation on (66) 5365 0803.