Wat Ming Muang, Chiang Rai

 On the main road of Banpha Prakan Road and crossing of Trairat Road is a  beautiful white Wat with many crouching elephants on its temple wall. Like us, many get confused between Wat Ming Mueang and Wat Mung Mueang. For one, it's their close proximity to each other  and secondly, their names also sound very similar.

History of temple:

According to the information at the temple:

• Wat Ming Mueang is a 700 year old temple and was built in 1262 during the reign of King Mengrai. Since, it was a royal temple, it was very important and prosperous.
• His queen Devi Usapayako, daughter of a Burmese ruler in Pha Ko city (Hong Sao Wadi), so the wat is also referred by that name.
• The queen ordered the first renovation of the temple and made royal visits to pay homage to main Buddha image enshrined in the temple's wooden vihara.
• The temple is also a  memorial to King Mengrai's mother, Queen Chommuang, also known as Queen Thep Kamkayai who used to practice meditation in the vihara.
• King Mengrai used to make merit twice a year--- one on full moonlight of Visaka or the sixth month of lunar calendar, and the other on Loy Krathong day, which falls on the twelfth month of the lunar calendar. When visiting the wat, he circumambulated the pagoda twice in clockwise direction where his mother's ashes were kept.
• This temple was earlier called "Wat Chang Moop" which translates to "temple of crouching elephant". It is said that King Sarm Faggan of Chiang Mai had the Emerald Buddha, the one found at Wat Phra Kaew now,  kept in his city. He ordered procession of elephants to greet the statue. The temple thus derived its name from the sitting posture of the royal elephants.
• Being one of the city gates of Chiang Rai called "Pathu Padang", the temple was a Tai Yai or Shan people's temple, as many Burmese Thais resided there. In 1877, these people helped in the renovation of temple with exquisite Burmese architecture.
• In 1970, the temple was officially enlisted as a Buddhist temple of Thailand and was named "Wat Ming Mueang", meaning "the auspicious temple of the city".

What to see in this temple:

Let me assure you that the temple provides ample opportunities for taking pictures. Every corner of the temple is worth a click.

• admire the entrance gate which is beautiful in red and gold
• the dwarapala or yaksha standing outside vihara or viharn
• viharn Mai lai Khum is the best example to appreciate Thai Yai (Myanmar) and Lanna style of architecture.
• admire the very high quality Buddha images inside viharn
• entry to ubosoth is not permitted but admire it from outside
• the sacred well on viharn's side
• climb up the stairs on side of the well, the roof has tuft grass and there are Buddha images on four sides, also a beautiful one which is seen from the road {Trairat Road}
• looking around the temple suggests that the temple must have been an important one, obviously with King Mengrai and his Queen coming it must not have been an ordinary one.

view of gate from temple side

The red and golden gate has a makar in center, hansa or hongsa on top of it. On the two sides are two naga. Going up further is Thao Jatulokbal with four faces and protecting it from all four directions. On top of it, is the crown with an umbrella or hti.

wooden door of temple

view of gate from outside

It is impossible to pass under the gate and not notice how beautiful it is.

crouching elephants on both sides

view of temple guardian or yaksha

Observe the guardian's feet, you would see that one of his foot is in front, showing that he is ready to take action to protect the temple.

Hansa or hongsa decorate the roof of viharn as well as the ubosoth.

Viharn Mai Lai Khum:

The viharn is entirely wooden and is a mixture of Thai-Yai (Myanmar) and Lanna style. It is beautifully decorated and is one of the best Lanna style temple in Chiang Rai.

red and gold naga at entranceBoth viharn with red roof and ubosoth with green roof have hongsa on their roofs

naga at entrance

what a beautiful temple

an image of Buddha in a blessing posture

Luang Phor Phra Sri Ming Muang is an ancient stucco Buddha image gilded over with lacquer surface. It is said to be more than 400 years old and is 80 inches in width.

The image is in Chiang Saen Singh 1 style in which the body is plump, hair is curled, with a hair bun in lotus shape. It is studded with semi precious gemstones.

Every where you look, something or the other fascinates you

Portrait of King Mengrai

hongsa or hansa and elephant

Ubosoth:

The beauty of ubosoth is no less.

roof of ubosoth and vihar are also beautifully decorated

Khochasi 

Khochasi, which has a lion's body but head of an elephant

front view of ubosoth

the ubosoth usually remains closed

side of building

hongsa on the roof of viharn and ubosot

The Ming Muang Stupa:

It enshrines relics of king Mengrai's mother, Chao Nang Talamae Si.  Designed with a mix of Myanmar and Lanna architecture. The topmost structure stands on a bulbous base.  The chedi has an umbrella in Myanmar style on top. It is said to be the oldest structure in temple complex.

The stupa houses relics of King Mengrai's mother, Chao Nang Talamae Sri

front of chedi

image of Buddha and on the sides crouching elephants

Bo Nam Chang Mub:

It is said to be an ancient sacred well. It is said to bring good fortune if one drinks the water and washes their faces before leaving.

It faces east and had a Kong-style roof which was arched. When we went, they were renovating the place.

the roof of well was being constructed

well under repairs/construction

water in the well

Satellite and other temples:

Apart from vihar, ubosot, chedi, there are many temples or structures.

Shrine near the vihara housing the statues of King Mengrai and his queen, Usapayakho.

A white building which was still under construction when we visited

On the side of ubosot is this small place, nothing is written there so I am not sure what it is

elephant and hongsa on pillar by the side of viharn

This is a fairly new construction, a part of it was still not ready when we went in December 2021.

inside the temple is an image of Buddha under Mucalinda

Temples on the terrace:

There is a terrace from the side of well. Do not miss the chance of going up too see  many images of Buddha.

view of temple from the terrace

up the stairs

corner view of terrace

this is what you see from Trairat Road

Phaya naga, which is a combination of naga and Garuda

stunning elephant

absolutely breathtaking phaya naga as seen from the road

image inside the niche we see from outside

bell on terrace

terrace with beautiful pillars and temples

in the center is this beautiful temple

four corners of terrace:

on the four corners of terrace are the following images

reclining mudra

rear view of temple

image in a temple

Buddha footprints

I can only say that the wat is very beautiful and I needed more time than I had allocated for myself. Looking back, I remember things which I missed.

Timings: 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.

Entrance fee: free