Gallery of a couple of Chiang Mai Temples - Song of the Koel - CycleBlaze

November 11, 2025

Gallery of a couple of Chiang Mai Temples

A Gallery of a couple of Chiang Mai Temples

Wat Pan Whaen - Someone placed one of the clay candles on the Naga's tongue!
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The gate to Wat Pan Whaen
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Front doors to Wat Pan Whaen.
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Very intricate chedi behind Wat Pan Whaen.
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Wat Pan Whaen's Chedi
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Here's what happens to those little clay holders for candles when the candles are used up. One time use and then into the landfill. I don't know why they aren't refilled with wax.
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Unusual Chedi at Wat Pan Whaen. With the four faces it's reminiscent of Bayon temple in the Angkor complex of ancient ruins in Cambodia. Except these guys have mustaches.
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Wat Pan Whaen is a very small temple but it has lots of unique features. Of course so do all the temples of Chiang Mai and there are a whole lot of them.
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Frangipani flowers
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The reclining Buddha on the Chedi at Wat Pan Whaen. The reclining Buddha represents the final moments before the Buddha entered into Nirvana (enlightenment) and (just before his death.)
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Wat Sri Suphan - Silver Temple
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The front of Wat Suan Dok. Built in 1373! There aren't many wats that are open on all sides such as this one. And Wat Suan Dok is huge.
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Wat Suan Dok - open on all sides. This is a very old temple - 1373.
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Wat Suan Dok
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A glass Buddha at Wat Suan Dok.
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The Chedi and back side of Wat Suan Dok.
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Scott AndersonI love the sky as background against shots like this. Not great cycling weather, but as long you're stuck in this burg it's a nice consolation.
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2 months ago
Bruce LellmanTo Scott AndersonYes, the skies have been nicely dramatic. The clouds and rain are slowly moving off just in time for what I always say about northern Thailand, that the rains stop like clockwork on November 15th. Perfect timing for our biking to really start.
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2 months ago
Facing the Chedi is this standing Buddha in a pose I've never seen before. Some young monk no doubt placed a broom in his hand! He'll get in trouble.
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Wat Suan Dok. You can see the back of the standing Buddha's head who is faced towards the rear and at the Chedi.
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At Wat Suan Dok.
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A huge lacquerware box inside Wat Suan Dok. I don't know what is kept inside.
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I believe these were offerings in memory of the late Queen Sirikit. They are in an enormous beautiful lacquerware container.
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These were on a table inside Wat Suan Dok. I have no idea what they were for.
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John SolemI know nothing but I learn so much from both of you on your travels -- thank you for that. A Google image search says, regarding the image above: "The image shows a collection of "money trees," which are a traditional way of making merit (thambun) in Buddhist culture, particularly in Thailand. These are typically used for donations at a Thai temple."
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2 months ago
Bruce LellmanTo John SolemThank you, John. I guess I could have done a Google search too but there is so much that is always going on for us that I can't do everything so it was nice of you to help out. Now, a day has past and I saw more of these in a temple with paper money attached to the straw like things. I'll post it soon. It's all making a lot more sense now.
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2 months ago
Bodhi tree leaves
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Since Wat Suan Dok is open on all sides this metal work has been installed all around to keep the riff riff out at night. I don't remember it being there in the 1970's.
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lovebruce

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Rachael AndersonI’m sorry about your dental issues but you sure are getting some incredible photos!
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2 months ago
Bruce LellmanTo Rachael AndersonThank you, Rachael.

I'm actually very happy my dental issues happened here and very early in our trip. It was the best place to be for a root canal!
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2 months ago