Wat Chet Yot

Wat Chet Yot is a Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand, built in the mid‑15th century. The temple is notable for its unusual seven‑spired chedi that echoes the form of the Mahabodhi Temple in India.

The site’s main attraction is the large seven‑spired chedi and the surrounding viharn and cloister complex, which visitors come to see for their architectural form and decorative stucco. The complex also serves as a functioning monastery with spaces used for worship and ceremonies.

The temple was constructed in the mid‑15th century under the Lan Na kingdom and is associated with royal patronage from that period. Its design reflects religious links between northern Thailand and Buddhist sites elsewhere in South Asia.

Wat Chet Yot sits in Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand, not far from the city of Chiang Mai. The temple is accessible from the city and lies within the cultural landscape of the Lan Na heartland.

• Seven spires: The central chedi is modelled on the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya and has seven spires, a distinctive feature in northern Thai temple architecture.

What to See#

• Seven-spired chedi: The seven-spired chedi modeled on the Mahabodhi Temple form the temple’s central focus and give the site its name.
• Viharn and monastery buildings: The main viharn and ordination hall contain later murals and buildings used for monastic functions and local worship.

“Jet Yod” means “seven spires”, a reference to the unusual chedi at this temple, which was modelled on the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya in India. It was built by King Tilokaraj to host the World Buddhist Council in 1477, a move intended to regenerate Buddhist belief in the region. The rectangular chedi, one of several in the compound, does indeed have seven spires, but its most eye-catching feature is the bas-relief sculptures of angels that appear to float in the air cross-legged.

The temple lies a few kilometres northwest of the city centre, beside the first ring road, so it is chiefly worth the trip for dedicated temple-lovers or those combining it with the Chiang Mai National Museum just along the road.

Wat Chet Yot lies north-west of the Old City on the Superhighway (Route 11), north of the Nimman area. It is a short songthaew, tuk-tuk or Grab ride from the centre, and the Chiang Mai National Museum is a short walk away along the same road.

• Come in the early morning or late afternoon, when low sunlight picks out the stucco figures of seated deities on the walls of the seven-spired chedi.
• Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees, and remove your shoes before entering temple buildings.
• The shady, spacious grounds are far quieter than the Old City temples and a good place to escape the crowds.