Wat Phan Tao

Wat Phan Tao is a small Lanna-style Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai’s Old City noted for its timber ubosot and traditional wooden construction. The building is primarily made of teak and exhibits carved wooden details typical of northern Thai religious architecture.

The temple compound contains the ordination hall and a small shrine area used for routine religious observance and community ceremonies. Its wooden structures contrast with the brick and stucco stupas of neighbouring temple complexes.

The site reflects traditional northern Thai building techniques and is maintained as an active temple used by local residents and pilgrims.

Wat Phan Tao sits inside Chiang Mai’s Old City, immediately adjacent to the area around Wat Chedi Luang, and is reachable on foot from other central Chiang Mai temples and markets.

• Proximity: Located within Chiang Mai’s Old City close to Wat Chedi Luang, it is easy to include on a short walking circuit of the central historic temples.

• Go early in the morning to catch the teak architecture and decorative woodwork of Wat Phan Tao in softer light and before the larger tour groups arrive at nearby Chedi Luang.
• Approach Wat Phan Tao from the Chedi Luang/Three Kings Monument side to step straight into the quieter temple courtyard and avoid the heavier foot traffic on the main tourist route; observe customary shoe removal and modest dress inside the wooden viharn.

One of Chiang Mai’s lesser-known temples, Wat Phan Tao is worth a look for its beautiful teak viharn, which was once used as a royal residence. It stands right next door to Wat Chedi Luang, making it easy to combine the two. The dark wood panels are exquisitely crafted, and inside sits a large Buddha with a blissful expression. What catches the eye before you even enter is the inlaid glass mosaic of a peacock and other creatures above the doorway, which is especially striking when it reflects the morning sun.

The temple holds a number of historical relics, including a collection of ancient temple bells and several wooden Buddha statues. It also safeguards ancient palm-frond manuscripts that are among the oldest recorded written documents in Southeast Asia. The small compound contains little else apart from a chedi behind the viharn and a small pond at the rear.