Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Chedi Luang Worawihan in full, is the temple with the enormous broken brick chedi in the middle of Chiang Mai's Old City. Founded in the late 14th century, it was built around one of the largest chedis of the Lanna kingdom, and even half-ruined it still dominates the skyline inside the moat. It stands right in the centre of the walled city, 5 minutes or less from most Old City guesthouses, so it fits easily into any Old City day.
Why go
No other temple in Chiang Mai gives you the same sense of scale and age. The chedi was completed in 1475 at about 82 metres. In the 1545 earthquake its upper part collapsed, and it has stood as a great stepped ruin ever since, with only part of it restored in the 1990s.
The chedi is also tied to the most important Buddha image in Thailand. The Emerald Buddha was kept here in the 15th century before it was moved on. A jade replica now sits in the east niche of the chedi, and many Thai visitors come specifically to pay respect to it.
Add the City Pillar shrine, the friendly monk chat and the way the chedi glows after dark, and it is easy to spend longer here than you planned.
What to see
- The great chedi: walk all the way around it. The east side, with the jade Emerald Buddha replica in its niche, is the one to photograph in the morning light; the west side catches the late afternoon sun.
- The main wihan: the large assembly hall near the entrance, where daily chanting and ceremonies take place. Sit for a moment on the floor at the back if a ceremony is not under way.
- The City Pillar shrine (Sao Inthakin): the shrine to the city's guardian pillar stands in the grounds near the entrance. By tradition women may not enter the shrine itself; they can pay respect from outside.
- Monk chat: novices and monks sit at tables in the grounds every day to talk with visitors in English. Ask about monastic life, Buddhism or Chiang Mai; they practise their English, you learn far more than any sign can tell you.
- The chedi at night: after 18:00 the floodlights come on and the tour groups have gone. This is the best time for photographs and for simply sitting on the lawn.
How to get there
- From the Old City
- it is in the Old City. From anywhere inside the moat it is a short walk; from Tha Phae Gate allow about 15 minutes on foot.
- From the airport or Mae Hia
- Grab is the easy option, about 30 minutes from Mae Hia depending on traffic. Ask to be dropped at the main gate.
- By songthaew or Grab
- red songthaews pass along the main Old City roads; agree the fare before you get in. Grab cars and motorbikes are quick to find around the moat.
- On foot
- combine it with Wat Phan Tao, right next door, and Wat Phra Singh, about 10 minutes' walk west.
Tips
- Cover shoulders and knees. The dress code is enforced at the gate, and wraps are usually available if you forget.
- The 50 THB fee applies to foreign adults, 20 THB for children. Keep your ticket while you walk around.
- Go early in the morning for quiet grounds and soft light, or after 18:00 for the lit chedi. Late morning is the busiest time.
- The Inthakin festival, a week of merit-making at the City Pillar, falls in May or June. Expect crowds of local families bringing flowers and candles; it is a good time to see Chiang Mai people at their own temple.
- If you are based in Mae Hia, pair a morning here with Wat Phra That Doi Kham in the afternoon. Doi Kham is the quieter hilltop temple above Mae Hia, with a view over the airport and very few tour groups.
- For a full plan that links the Old City temples with Doi Suthep and Mae Hia, see the 3-day itinerary.
FAQ
How much does it cost to enter Wat Chedi Luang?
50 THB for foreign adults and 20 THB for children; Thai nationals enter free.
What are the opening hours of Wat Chedi Luang?
The grounds are open 06:00 to 22:00 every day, so you can visit after dark when the chedi is lit.
Can women enter the City Pillar shrine at Wat Chedi Luang?
No. By tradition women may not enter the Sao Inthakin shrine, but they can pay respect from outside.
Is there monk chat at Wat Chedi Luang?
Yes. Monks and novices sit in the grounds every day to talk with visitors in English.
How far is Wat Chedi Luang from Mae Hia?
About 30 minutes by car or Grab, depending on traffic into the Old City.
