Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai Province

Year of the Goat: If you ever go to Chiang Mai, then you must make sure you visit this temple at the top of the mountain at Doi Suthep. The golden chedi is really beautiful and if you go there on a clear day, you will also see fine views of Chiang Mai city and the surrounding countryside. This temple dates back to 1373 A.D. There is a fascinating legend about how the site for this temple was chosen. The Lanna king at that time invited a monk from Sukhothai to bring him a relic of the Lord Buddha. When he arrived, the relic mysteriously duplicated itself. One piece was enshrined at Wat Suan Dok. The other piece was put in a box on the back of an auspicious white elephant. The elephant was then left to wander on its own accord. It then proceeded up to the top of Suthep Mountain where it walked in a circle three times and then promptly fell down dead. The chedi was then built on this spot to house the relic. This temple is an important place for people born in the Year of the Goat.

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