Wat Phra Chao Thongtip

Wat Phra Chao Thongtip is a village temple in Ban Thong Thip, Si Thoi subdistrict, in Mae Suai district — rural Chiang Rai, well off the routes most visitors take to Wat Rong Khun or the city’s temples. Entry is free, and there’s no set closing time posted; it keeps the daylight hours typical of a working Thai temple.

The temple takes its name from Phra Chao Thong Thip, the old bronze Buddha image enshrined inside. According to local legend, the image was being transported by royal barge down the Kok River when the vessel became stuck at this point on the water with no obstruction to explain it. It was taken as a sign, and a mondop — a square-based pavilion shrine — was built here to house the image rather than continue the journey elsewhere. The surrounding area, once known as Ban Pa Wai for the rattan forest that covered it, grew into the village that still bears the temple’s name today.

Insider Tip: This isn’t a temple built for tour buses — there’s no ticket booth or gift shop, just a working monastery. Go if you’re already exploring Mae Suai’s back roads rather than making a special trip from central Chiang Rai.

Watch out: There’s no public opening-hours listing for this temple, so calling ahead (0 5370 8227) is worth doing if you’re planning a visit outside typical daylight hours or want to see inside the main hall.

Dress modestly — covered shoulders and knees — and remove your shoes before entering any building. If you’re building a day around Chiang Rai’s temples, pair this stop with Wat Phra Kaew in the city centre, which houses the jade Buddha image the province is best known for and gives useful context for how Lanna-era temples like this one fit into the region’s religious history.