Wat Suan Dok
Chiang Mai's royal white chedis around a 48 m golden one, just west of the moat. Free grounds, and Monk Chat Monday to Friday from 16:00 to 19:00.
Plan your visit
- Hours
- Daily 06:00–18:00
Dress Modestly
Cover shoulders and knees at all temples. Carry a light scarf or sarong — some temples lend wraps, but not all. Shoes come off before entering any building with a Buddha image.
Finding your way around Wat Suan Dok
Layouts, fares and hours change. If something here has moved, use “Suggest a correction” at the bottom of the page.
Monk Chat and meditation, from monkchat.net
- Monk Chat · Mon–Fri 16:00–19:00
- Free conversation with student monks at the Buddhist university campus in the grounds. Monks may also be free to talk outside those hours.
- Half-day and one-day retreats
- Run on weekdays by the Monk Chat office. The days change with the season, so check monkchat.net.
- Two-day retreat
- Once a month, at the university's meditation center. Book through monkchat.net.
Getting there and around
- The temple is on Suthep Road about 1 km west of Suan Dok Gate, a 15-minute walk from the moat.
- A red songthaew from the Old City is ฿30 a person.
Details
- Address
- 139 Suthep Rd, Tambon Su Thep, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
- Phone
- +66 90 224 7220
Full opening hours
Tours that include Wat Suan Dok
Guided visits and day-tour combos that include Wat Suan Dok.
Why go, and how to do it well
The white chedis are the reason to come. Wat Suan Dok was founded in 1370–71 by King Kue Na of Lanna for the Sukhothai monk Maha Sumana Thera, to house a relic of the Buddha, and its great golden chedi, 48 m tall and bell-shaped in the Sri Lankan style, still holds it. Beside it stand the whitewashed reliquaries of Chiang Mai's royal family, whose ashes were gathered here in 1907, and standing among them is a very different experience from the gilded temple circuit inside the walls.
It's also the place for a proper conversation with a monk. Monk Chat, run by the Buddhist university campus in the temple grounds, opens Monday to Friday from 16:00 to 19:00 and costs nothing, and the student monks are as curious about you as you are about them. The same office runs meditation retreats, half-day and one-day courses during the week and a two-day retreat once a month, and the schedule changes with the season, so check and sign up on monkchat.net.
Afternoons are the quiet slot otherwise, and the late light inside the main hall gets mentioned again and again in reviews. Give yourself time for the resting place of damaged Buddha images, some of them rescued from abandoned temples, and the pond full of fish and turtles. There are chickens everywhere, and some scaffolding where restoration work is going on.
The grounds are free to walk. One visitor has reported a ฿20 sign at the main hall, so carry small notes for that or a donation. It's generally open from about 06:00 to 18:00. Cover shoulders and knees, and take your shoes off indoors. The temple is on Suthep Road about 1 km west of Suan Dok Gate, a 15-minute walk from the moat or a short ride in a red songthaew at ฿30 a person.
Written by Mac Kiley · Updated Oct 2026
Stay within reach of Wat Suan Dok
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Tours that include Wat Suan Dok
Guided visits and day-tour combos that include Wat Suan Dok.
Around here, on foot
Well-rated places within a short walk of Wat Suan Dok, nearest first. Minutes are at an easy pace in the heat.
- 1 minPun Pun (Wat Suan Dok)Restaurants & Food · 80 m · 4.6★
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- 9 minBlanc Chiang MaiRestaurants & Food · 740 m · 4.8★
Experience hints
Pair your visit. After Wat Suan Dok, round out your day in Chiang Mai with contrasting stops nearby.
Reviews from Google
A very beautiful place. Everything is posted in Thai and English, often with QR codes for more info. A short ride from Chiang Mai. Very educational. There is a gorgeous "graveyard" for damaged Buddha statues (which cannot be discarded) which includes very old statues from abandoned temples in Thailand. There are also a lot of chickens all over the place and a GIANT pond full of all manner of fish, turtles, and who knows what else. It costs 20 baht to visit the temple and you must dress modestly.
I went in the afternoon, and there was hardly anyone there, which was great. I took a peaceful and pleasant stroll around the place, and I really liked the large temple. It's a very nice temple to visit. To enter and take a picture with the Buddha, you have to pay 20 baht, but the experience was beautiful. You can walk there from the city center. 100%recomend
Wat Suan Dok is beautiful. There is a quite large stupa outside and the temple is beautiful. It is one of the bigger temples in Chiang Mai. It is located to the west of the old town outside the Suan Dok gate. Please remember to dress accordingly if entering the temple.
A sample of visitor reviews from Google. Read all 4,670 reviews on Google.
139 Suthep Rd, Tambon Su Thep, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
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Gallery Seescape
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Tips for Visiting Temples & Culture
Mind Your Feet
Never point your feet at a Buddha image or a monk — it's considered deeply disrespectful. When sitting inside a temple, tuck your feet behind you or to the side.
Ask Before Photographing
Exterior photos are almost always fine, but some interior halls prohibit photography. Look for signs, and never pose irreverently with Buddha images — it's a legal offense in Thailand.
Go Early Morning
Big-name temples are dramatically less crowded in the first hour after opening. You'll also avoid the worst of the midday heat and get softer light for photos.
Wat Suan Dok: Frequently Asked Questions
When is Monk Chat at Wat Suan Dok?
Monday to Friday, 16:00 to 19:00, on the program's own site (monkchat.net). It's free. Older guides say Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, which is out of date.
Is there an entrance fee at Wat Suan Dok?
The grounds are free to walk, and donations are welcome. One visitor has reported a ฿20 sign at the main hall, so carry small notes.
What is inside the white chedis at Wat Suan Dok?
The ashes of Chiang Mai's royal family, gathered here in 1907. The great golden chedi beside them, 48 m tall, holds a relic of the Buddha brought by the monk Maha Sumana Thera when the temple was founded in 1370–71.
Can I do a meditation retreat at Wat Suan Dok?
Yes. The Monk Chat office runs half-day and one-day retreats during the week and a two-day retreat once a month. The schedule changes with the season; sign up on monkchat.net.
Is Wat Suan Dok worth visiting?
Wat Suan Dok holds a 4.6★ rating from 4,670 Google reviews, placing it among the highest-rated temples & culture in Chiang Mai.
What are the opening hours of Wat Suan Dok?
Wat Suan Dok is typically open 06:00–18:00 — see the full day-by-day schedule in the location info on this page. Hours can change on Thai public holidays, so check ahead for holiday visits.
Where is Wat Suan Dok located?
Wat Suan Dok is at 139 Suthep Rd, Tambon Su Thep, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, in Chiang Mai. Getting around Chiang Mai: Red songthaews (shared pick-up trucks); Grab (available in city center).
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