Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong

Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong — formally Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong Worawihan — sits in Chom Thong district about 58 km southwest of Chiang Mai city, on the route toward Doi Inthanon. Founded in the mid-15th century, it holds the Phra Boromathat Chom Thong relic, believed to be a fragment of the Buddha’s skull. Unlike most Thai relic temples, it’s enshrined inside a mondop rather than a chedi, and it’s only brought out for public worship on major Buddhist holy days.

The main viharn, built in 1817, has a two-storey cruciform floor plan with the mondop rising from its roof — the relic chamber sits directly above the main hall rather than in a separate tower. Gilded wood carvings cover the gables, portals and facade, a hallmark of Lanna temple craftsmanship, and the ordination hall inside houses Buddha images in several meditation postures. Because it’s still an active monastery rather than a museum piece, you’ll usually find monks moving through the complex for morning and evening chanting.

Insider Tip: Time a visit for a Buddhist holy day (check the lunar calendar) if you want to see the relic itself — outside those dates, the mondop stays closed and you’re seeing the viharn’s carvings and Buddha images only, which is still worth the detour but a different experience.

Local families come through the day to make merit, and the temple keeps a working rhythm — quieter and less staged than Chiang Mai’s big tourist-circuit wats. The surrounding grounds are shaded and modest in scale; this isn’t a sprawling complex, so an hour is enough to see the viharn and grounds properly.

Entry is free and the temple is open daily, roughly 07:00-18:00. Dress modestly with covered shoulders and knees, and remove shoes before entering the viharn. It’s on the Chiang Mai-Hot Road and easiest to reach by car or motorbike; pair it with Mae Klang Waterfall or a run up to Doi Inthanon National Park, both a short drive further along the same road.