Wat Pha Lat

Wat Pha Lat is a 14th-century forest temple halfway up Doi Suthep, above Chiang Mai. It sits on a sloping rock shelf where a stream spills between moss-covered chedis, stone nagas and statues, with the city spread out below. Entry is free, and most visitors arrive on foot via the Monk’s Trail, the old pilgrims’ path to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.

History: the white elephant’s rest stop

The temple dates to 1355 and the reign of King Kue Na of Lanna. The story tells of a white elephant carrying a Buddha relic up the mountain. It stopped to rest on this rock before climbing on to the spot where Wat Phra That Doi Suthep now stands, and the king had a temple built at both places. For centuries Wat Pha Lat was a resting point for monks and pilgrims making the climb. It is also known as Wat Sakadagami.

Mong Panyo, a Burmese teak trader, restored the temple in the early 20th century. A road up the mountain later made the forest path unnecessary, and the temple went quiet for decades until a revival began in 1991. A flash flood in September 2024 damaged parts of the grounds; the temple is open, but some corners still look worn.

The Monk’s Trail

The trail starts at the top of Suthep Road, behind Chiang Mai University, and climbs through forest. Strips of saffron cloth tied to the trees mark the way. Most walkers reach Wat Pha Lat in 30 to 60 minutes. The upper section on to Doi Suthep is steeper and takes another 1 to 1.5 hours; with stops at both temples, the whole climb is a 3 to 4 hour morning.

Insider Tip: Walk up to Wat Pha Lat, then take a songthaew or Grab the rest of the way to Doi Suthep. You get the forest and the quiet temple on foot and save your legs for Doi Suthep’s 306 steps.

Watch out: The trail is mud and loose rock, not a paved path. After rain it turns slick, and the rock beside the stream is worse. Wear proper shoes, carry water, and start early: there is little shade on the lower stretch by late morning.

If you’d rather not navigate it alone, this guided hike walks the trail with a guide and finishes at Doi Suthep.

What you’ll see

Water runs straight through the compound. A small stream fans out over the rock between the shrines, and in the rainy season it forms a chain of little falls beside the paths. A seated guardian figure watches over the lower courtyard. Behind it, a white arched shrine holds a Buddha image under a tiered red roof. Moss covers the older brick chedi and the naga balustrades, and the terrace at the edge of the grounds looks east over the treetops to the city.

It’s a working temple with monks in residence, so voices drop. Many people sit by the water for half an hour, which is much of the point after the crowds at Doi Suthep.

Chiang Mai Zoo sits at the foot of the same mountain, and Wat Umong, Chiang Mai’s other forest temple with its tunnels, is a short drive south. For longer walks on the mountain, see Doi Suthep-Pui National Park. View on Google Maps.