Wat Umong Buddhist Temple, Thailand

Address

Wat Umong Buddhist Temple, Suthep, Mueang Chiang Mai District, 50200, Thailand

Diety

Buddha

Introduction

Wat Umong (Wat Umong Suan Puthatham) is a 700-year-old Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Chiang Mai is the capital of Northern Thailand. This place became the capital of the kingdom of Lana Thai – the kingdom of Buddhist kings in 1296. Wat Umong, also known as Oomong Temple, Nestled among the dense forests of of Suthep, Wat U-mong is one of Thailand’s most ancient temples and also the oldest one in Chiang Mai.

Puranic Significance

The temple was built in 1297 by King Mangrai of the Lan Na dynasty. The temple is extremely ancient, the traces due to the impact of the weather, or the ruined, rusty things result in the timeless beauty of Wat Umong. These monasteries and temples were once abandoned, until 1940 when the Thai government excavated and began to put Wat Umong into operation as an ancient relic. Currently, Wat U-mong remains intact traces of time with plastered walls, scant tiles. Under the sunlight, the main temple scene is both poetic and mysterious. The entrance of Wat U-mong temple is hidden behind tall trees. Two ancient statues placed on both sides of the gate symbolize the barrier keeping dark forces from entering the temple. This dome-shaped structure was built of baked bricks and preserved from the original construction in the late 14th century to the present day. On a fairly large space, a huge piece of artificial land was built into the cross-linking tunnels. According to many people, this tunnel maze is often a place for monks to wander. On top of this mound is the location of the main Stupa, where visitors can reach through the entrance of the tunnel. On the altar in the main hall of the stupa, there are small Buddha statues of various shapes. The tunnel leading into the main hall displays impressive ancient collections such as the history of Buddhism or Thailand’s Buddhist development as well as images depicting the leading predecessors of Buddhism.