Wat Bupparam Temple

Address: Wat Bupparam, Chiang Mai (Old City), Chiang Mai Province, Thailand

Admission: Free (no formal admission)

Wat Bupparam was originally built in the late 15th century on the site of a royal palace, though much of the architecture is recent. There are two viharn, one small and one large, both quite old and, unusually, facing north rather than east.

There is also an elaborately decorated chedi and a large well, but the building that catches most visitors’ eye is a two-storey structure with steeply pitched roofs and intricate statues of mythical creatures all around. This is the Hor Monthientham, built in 1996 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of King Bhumibol’s reign.

Though it is not one of the city’s most famed temples, its location on Tha Pae Road and its eccentric adornments - which include no less than a model of Donald Duck - appeal to most visitors’ sense of humour.

• Visit in the quieter early morning or late afternoon hours to appreciate the temple's Lanna‑style details without the larger tour groups that circulate the nearby old‑city temples.
• Combine Wat Bupparam with a short walking loop of nearby old‑city temples so you avoid peak visitor flows concentrated at Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh; the side‑streets around Bupparam are where locals worship and you'll see less tourist traffic.