Wat Maha Chin That Chao ( Wat Phra That Doi Tung)

Location: Tambol Tertthai, Aumphur Maefaluang, Chiangrai

Occupant: Wat Maha Chin That Chao (Wat Phra That Doi Tung)

Year established: 911 A.D

The Phra Thaat Doi Tung Stupa is considered to be one of the oldest monuments in Northern Thailand. The stupa is believed to represent the zodiac sign for the year of Pig. According to legend, Phra Maha Kassapa brought a left collar-bone relic of the Buddha to King Achutarat of Yonok Nakhon, who later established the stupa to enshrine the collar-bone of Lord Buddha at the peak of the mountain by making long flags know as the “tung”, 1,000 wa length (1 wa =2 meters), pitched at the top of the mountain. The stupa was built where the flag was originally displayed. In the era of Phraya Mang Rai, Phra Maha Wachira Photi Tera brought him a bone relic of Buddha, Phraya Mang Rai then enshrined the bone relic of Buddha at Doi Tung and had another stupa established near the existing one there.

The two stupa ruins were renovated in a Lanna architectural style by a venerable monk, Khruba Sriwichai and the collaboration of both the Lanna and Chiang Rai people in 1927. That time, the pagoda had 8 square sapes and 12 niches like the Phra That Doi Suthep found in the Chiang Mai province. Later in 1973, the government office renovated the pagoda. The rebuilt pagoda was a castle-like structure decorated with niches on all four sides. Stucco Buddha images are found at all the eight gates and a ubosot is also in the area. Somdech Phra Boroma Orasadhiraj Chao Fah Maha Vajiraalongkorn Sayam Makutrajakuman attended the foundation stone laying ceremony.

By the request of local people. The Department of Fine Arts were given a project to decommission the pagoda in 2006, as it had a new cover which did not maintain the appearance of the original shown on photos dating back to eighty year ago, in the period of Khruba Sriwichai. The pagoda was again reconstruction but this time more in keeping with its former design. The relic was also relocated to Wat Phra That Doi Tung Noi, situated below the mountain.