Wat Umong Suan Putthatham

This temple, surrounded by ancient trees and covered in moss, was built in the mid-14th century. It has many beautiful nicknames: Wat Umong (Temple of No Dreams) and Wat Umong (Temple of Enlightenment). In Thai, Umong means "tunnel." The temple was invaded by a neighboring country in the 16th century, abandoned for nearly 500 years, and then rebuilt. Besides the 30-meter-high main stupa, there is a forest of broken Buddha statues, scattered with hundreds of fragments dating back to the 14th century, covered in moss. Standing in this forest of broken statues, I felt an immense sense of tranquility. Suddenly, the world seemed to consist only of me and these Buddha statues before me. And these imperfections did not diminish their solemnity, compassion, or wholeness. The still-warm sunlight of Chiang Mai at 5 PM filtered through the ancient trees. I began to converse with the Buddha. A silent yet profound dialogue. I was deeply certain that every detail of this dialogue would gradually unfold in the future. I only needed to bring hope, courage, and perseverance.

One of Chiang Mai’s most peaceful and unusual temples. A real forest retreat at the foot of Doi Suthep, close to Chiang Mai University. It’s known for its ancient meditation tunnels under the chedi, which were built during King Kue Na’s reign (14th century) and give the temple its “tunnel temple” identity. Beyond the tunnels, the grounds feel like a calm nature park, wooded paths, a pond where visitors can feed fish and turtles, and small “dhamma quotes” signs hanging from trees. It’s quieter and less touristy than the big city temples, so it’s ideal for a respectful visit, slow walk, and a short break from Chiang Mai’s busy streets.

I did a 5-day Vipassana retreat at Wat Umong, a temple over 700 years old, and the experience was absolutely incredible. The place is peaceful and quiet, the ancient ruins are beautiful, and the monks are extremely kind. The alms food is also very nutritive. Everything was perfect — I definitely want to return! I highly recommend it to all my friends. And if you’re traveling to Peru, I also have a travel agency: @dopkertravel — we organize tours to Machu Picchu, Cusco, and all around Peru.