Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Wat Prathat Doi Suthep Chiang Mai


Wat Prathat doi suthep , Thsis Buddhist temple is situated on top of the eastern mountain included in Dio Suthep-Pui National Park , which is 262.5 Square Km in extent, overlooks Chiang Mai city 15 km below. There is a 300 step staircase that leads up the mountain to the temple , and for those who wish to access the temple quickly there is an elevator. The full length fo the staircase on either side has the body of a dragon,with the dragon heads at the botton fo the stairs. Because of the high altitude, the weather on the upper slopes of the mountains is cool and pleasant all year round, average temperature is about 20-23 c.In the cool season, the air is cold and clear.Temperature can drop as low as 6 c in February . August and September are the wettest months whith daily rain falls.This is one of Thailand's most revered Temples and must be visited. It takes 30 minutes to get there.

Legend of Wat Prathat doi suthep

According to legend, a monk named Sumanathera from Sukhothai had a dream; in this dream god told him to go to Pang Cha and look for a relic. Sumanathera ventured to Pang Cha and is said to have found a bone, which many claim was Buddha's shoulder bone. The relic displayed magical powers; it glowed, it was able to vanish, it could move itself and replicate itself. Sumanathera took the relic to King Dharmmaraja who ruled the Sukhothai.

The eager Dharmmaraja made offerings and hosted a ceremony when Sumanathera arrived. However the relic displayed no abnormal characteristics, and the king, doubtful of the relic's authenticity, told Sumanathera to keep it.

However, King Nu Naone of the Lanna Kingdom heard of the relic and offered the monk to take it to him instead. In 1368 with Dharmmaraja's permission, Sumanathera took the relic to what is now Lamphun, in northern Thailand. The relic apparently split in two, one piece was the same size, the other was smaller than the original. The smaller piece of the relic was enshrined at a temple in Suandok. The other piece was placed by the King on the back of a white elephant which was released in the jungle. The elephant is said to have climbed up Doi Suthep, at the time called Doi Aoy Chang (Sugar Elephant Mountain), trumpeted three times before dying at the site. It was interpreted as a sign and King Nu Naone ordered the construction of a temple at the site.

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