Wat Doi Ngam Muang, Chiang Rai

Last updated 2008-03-02

Wat Phra That Doi Ngam Muang is supposed to be the location of King Mengrai's ashes, said to be in the temple's chedi. It's located on a pleasant hill at the top of a long naga staircase, 74 steps in total.

There is no record of when or why the temple on the hill was built but it is assumed that it formerly was some kind of worshipping place. When King Mengrai passed away in Chiang Mai in 1317, his son, preferring to reside in Chiang Rai instead of Chiang Mai, brought the king's ashes to be buried on the hill. Several subsequent rulers of the northern kingdom renovated the temple, build the main hall and restored the monk's bedchambers.

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