Wat Chedi Luang
In its day, Wat Chedi Luang must have
been the most impressive temple in Chiang Mai. Built
about 600 years ago, the huge chedi which give the temple
its name must have soared high above the surrounding
city. We say "must have" because the chedi
was mostly destroyed within a few hundred years of its
construction. Some say it was an earthquake in the 17th
century that did the deed; others say it was King Taksin's
cannons firing on the city to chase out the Burmese
in the 18th century.
The chedi has been partially reconstructed, but the
spire has not been recreated since nobody can be sure
what it looked like.
Wat Chedi Luang was also important because for a short
time it housed the most important object in Thailand,
the Emerald Buddha. The Emerald Buddha is now in its
own temple in Bangkok, but a few years ago the king
donated a replica to be placed in the eastern niche
of the chedi.
The other niches are occupied by stone Buddha images.
On the southern side, the base is decorated with elephant
statues. To the west of the chedi is a small open shed
housing a reclining Buddha image. There are often artists
offering their wares in stalls on the large plaza of
the chedi.
Inside the main ubosot, the alter is backed by a magnificent
standing Buddha. Round whitewashed columns support an
unfinished wood roof.
Also inside the grounds of Wat Chedi Luang is the lak
muang, the guardian spirit post of the city.
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