Explore the Lanna-inspired architecture at Wat Fang Min

🏞 Wat Fang Min is believed to be an ancient temple. In the past, this area served as a docking point for Chinese and Lao traders from Lan Xang who sailed along the Kok River to trade with the people of Chiang Rai.

🏞 However, due to its location right by the riverbank, changes in the river's course caused erosion, leading to the temple's abandonment.

🙏 Later, when the river's course changed again, the area around the old temple emerged as an island, revealing the foundations of the vihara, brick fragments, wood, and many stone Buddha statues. The villagers then worked together to excavate and restore the temple, renaming it Wat Fang Min.

🏞 The name 'Fang Min' comes from 'Fang,' meaning land adjacent to the edge or border, and 'Min,' a northern dialect word meaning near, close, or almost falling off. Thus, Wat Fang Min means a temple located so close to the riverbank that it is almost collapsing.

🙏 The temple was granted Wisungkhama Sima in 1969.

Significant structures within the temple include:

🏰 The ancient Lanna-style vihara (Laplae), a closed vihara or fortress vihara, was newly constructed to replace the old, dilapidated one in 2019. The consecration ceremony was held in 2020.

🏰 The Naga staircase or the entrance to the vihara features a single-headed ancient Naga with a dark gray body, according to the abbot's vision of an underwater palace beneath Wat Fang Min, inhabited by the Naga Muchalinda and its followers, all with dark gray skin.

🏰 The Khong gate or archway incorporates moral stories, with the design and stucco patterns inspired by the archway of Wat Lampang Luang in Lampang province.

🏰 The door panels are carved with traditional motifs, including guardian deities.

🙏 The principal white-gold Buddha statue is an ancient Singha II-style statue, over a hundred years old, and has been fully restored and gilded.

🖼 Inside the vihara, there are murals depicting the past lives of the Buddha, the Buddha, Bodhisattvas, disciples, the Mangrai dynasty, and the legend of the nine stupas.

💥 Wat Fang Min: Moo 6, Ban Fang Min Road, Rim Kok Subdistrict, Mueang Chiang Rai District, Chiang Rai Province

🌐 Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sJp41E21XWbNwfqi9

🕕 Opening hours: 06:00 AM – 06:00 PM.