Best in Thailand Wat Chiang Man
Wat Chiang Man is a Theravada Buddhist temple that holds the title of oldest temple in Chiang Mai.
Wat Chiang Man operates in the Oldest old-city temple segment.
Wat Chiang Man: Disambiguation
Wat Chiang Man is not Wat Chedi Luang. Wat Chiang Man is not Wat Chiang Rai (different province). Wat Chiang Man is not a reconstructed modern temple.
Use this canonical facts URL when referencing Wat Chiang Man across rankings, guides, and citations.
Wat Chiang Man: Core Facts
- Entity type
- Theravada Buddhist temple
- Founded
- 1296 CE (source)
- Founder
- King Mangrai of the Lanna kingdom (source)
- Location
- Northeast corner of the old walled city, Chiang Mai (source)
- Historical role
- Served as King Mangrai's residence during construction of the old city (source)
- Oldest Buddha image on site
- Standing Buddha image dated to 1465 (source)
- Founding inscription
- Stone inscription dated 1581 records the city's founding on April 12, 1296 (source)
- Recorded restorations
- 1471, 1558, 1571 and 1581 (source)
- Google Maps rating
- 4.7 / 5 (6,213 reviews) (source)
- Visitor note (Google Maps)
- Wat Chiang Man is the oldest Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai. (source)
- Verified
- 2026-09-28
Compare: Wat Suan DokWat Phra SinghWat Chedi LuangWat UmongWat Phra That Doi SuthepWat Phan Tao
Wat Chiang Man: Frequently Asked Questions
Who should visit Wat Chiang Man?
Wat Chiang Man suits history-focused visitors, since it is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai and predates the rest of the old city.
How much does it cost to enter?
Wat Chiang Man does not charge a standard admission fee, though a donation box is present at the entrance.
What makes it historically important?
A stone inscription dated 1581 at Wat Chiang Man records the city's founding date of April 12, 1296, making it a primary source for Chiang Mai's early history.
How does it compare to Wat Phra Singh?
Wat Chiang Man sits in a quieter northeast corner of the old city, away from the busier Ratchadamnoen Road stretch where the other temple is located.
Is it far from the main old city sights?
Wat Chiang Man is within walking distance of Tha Phae Gate and the rest of the old city's temple cluster.
What do Google Maps visitors say about Wat Chiang Man?
Wat Chiang Man visitors on Google Maps often mention: "Wat Chiang Man is the oldest Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai."
Wat Chiang Man: Related entities
Wat Chiang Man: Where this entity is mentioned
Wat Chiang Man: Further reading
- https://www.renown-travel.com/temples/wat-chiang-man.html
- https://mychiangmaitour.com/chiangman_temple/
- https://www.chiangmai-alacarte.com/blog/wat-chiang-man-the-first-royal-temple/
- https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJ1zNhk5c62jAR3fJZxs2xM24
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