泰国古迹志 | 清迈古城诸寺 temples of Chiang Mai's old town - 走出国门 - 8264户外手机版

The chedi is of mostly of bright, white stucco with gilt trimmings. The wide base, which has two smaller chedis rising from it, is layered and rises to support the square, mid-section which has four niches on each side richly, decorated with gilt and containing standing Buddha images.

Above, the dark red bell is supported on an octagonal base, decorated by gilt umbrellas at the corners, and is topped by a gilt hti finial in the Burmese style. The niches are decorated with gilt scroll work.

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Wat Si Koet

Wat Si Koet was built around 1638 and was restored during the reign of King Kawila after the Burmese left Chiang Mai.

There is a lot of interesting features to see including the remarkable old Bodhi tree in the centre of the temple which is guarded by Devata figures and a wall lined with Dhamma wheels.

The buildings are well worth a look. The viharn has an impressive four tiers if you include the porch. The bargeboards are decorated with fine gilt nagas and the roof is decorated with impressive gilt nagas and slender eagle chofas. It has two tiers and is split in two sections. It also has two large side-porches with nagas as impressive as the front porch.

The exterior or back, west facing wall of the viharn has a large niche richly decorated in gilt with floral motifs and nagas. Inside is a standing Buddha image with arm outstretched with open palm.

The ubosot which, as usual is much smaller than the viharn is also more highly decorated than the main viharn. The roof has two tiers with naga bargeboards in gilt along its edges with eagle chofa finials at each apex. The base and walls are built with attractive marble-like stone which has been left unwhitewashed to show it off.

The entrance is guarded by a pair of colourful makarra set along the balustrade, disgorging nagas. Four columns support the porch which has a lavishly decorated gable end including gilt, foliate work set on a mosaic of coloured tiles. Over the lintel in the middle is a gilt chofa on a pedestal. The underside of the eaves are covered in gilt floral motifs.

The main door has rich gilt moldings decorated with floral motifs and the archway above the door is made up of three nagas on each side inside which is a Dhamma wheel. The doors are lavishly decorated with carvings in gilt of two Deva figures standing on small elephants.

The chedi is typical of the Northern style with high square base indented at the corners rising to a mid-section, also square, which supports the small Lanna half bell structure.

The rounded top is covered in different coloured pieces of glass or porcelain which have faded somewhat and above this is the lotus flower stem of the pinnacle made up of two flowers; one inverted and one upright. The top has a small gilt finial with hti or umbrella.

The chedi is guarded by chinthe lions at each corner and there is a large niche in the base for a Buddha image. A gold cloth is draped around part of the base and a number of shrubs and small plants grow out from the structure.

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Wat Tung Yu

Wat Tung Yu is over 500 years old and, we are told, is named after the ceremonial umbrella which denotes the rank of prince. The plaque near the entrance also tells us that the temple is mentioned in the poetical work "Nirat Hariphunchai" which was written around 1517.

The royal princes apparently continued to maintain the temple and in 1909 Prince Intawarot Suriyawang had the tiered umbrella at the top of the chedi made.

The viharn is an impressive size built on a high base with three tiered roof decorated with eagle chofa finials. Gilt naga heads protrude from the corners and their glittering bodies snake along the roof edges making up the bargeboards.

The entrance is guarded by two nagas extending along the balustrade with green scales and gilt heads. The porch is supported by columns which are half stone and half teak and the gable end is mostly of a natural wood appearance with the gilt having lost its lustre over time. Pieces of coloured glass make patterns set in panels and have also lost their shine.

Above the door and to either side are murals with Devata figures standing in the clouds to the right and left, and above the arch the mural depicts the Buddha sitting under the bodhi tree giving the sermon to a large crowd with several hundred faces and heads depicted. The arch itself is made up of the bodies of a pair of nagas with three heads, and underneath the arch is a Dhamma wheel.

The chedi looks to have been recently decorated as the whitewash is in pristine shape, and the gold bell dazzles under the sun. It has a tall base which is layered and has indented corners. This supports the hexagonal mid-section which rises, pyramid shaped to support the golden bell. This is topped by an elaborate gilt hti finial.

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Wat Chai Phra Kiat

Wat Chai Phra Kiat has a viharn, ubosot, and a new ho trai building. The viharn has a north-south orientation so the main Buddha image faces south instead of east. The gabled end is lavishly decorated with gilt foliate and floral motifs. In the middle is a Devata figure praying.

It has a large porch supported by four columns. The door has a richly decorated lintel and arch made up of the bodies of nagas in gilt. Over the lintel is a Dhamma wheel surrounded by two nagas and two mythical creatures amongst gilt foliate. One of the interesting features to look for are the mass of gilt chrysanthemum motifs which decorate the roof of the porch.

The roof has two tiers, split into two sections with chofa eagle finials at the apex. The bargeboards along the side of the roof are decorated with colourful nagas. The roof is supported by five pairs of teak columns in red lacquer decorated with gilt floral motifs. Around the walls are murals portraying scenes from the lives of the Buddha.

There is also a chedi across the road, which used to be part of the Wat Inthakhin. The chedi is made of red bricks, weathered by time, and its surface appears mottled and weathered. The central part of the chedi is carved with niches and lotus petals. The upper part of the chedi is conical, stacked layer by layer, with a slightly pointed top in bell-shaped.

Inthakhin is the name of the Lak Mueang（"city pillar"）of Chiang Mai. The ancient city of Chiang Mai was once based on the teachings of Buddhism and Hinduism, with the intersection point of the eight chedis within the city as the midpoint of the city. It is said that the pillar was first erected by King Mangrai at the founding of the city on April 12, 1296 CE at Wat Inthakhin. Legend has it that this temple pillar is the guardian deity of Chiang Mai and can bring prosperity to the city. It was brought to its present location inside a shrine on the temple grounds of Wat Chedi Luang by the king Kawila in 1800 CE.

The highlight of Wat Inthakhin lies in the old chedi next to it.