Wat Sri Suphan

Temple in Chiang Mai

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Immanuelle

Wat Sri Suphan is a must-visit temple in Chiang Mai, renowned for its striking “silver” ubosot (ordination hall). Located near the Saturday Walking Street Market, adjacent to Chiang Mai Gate, the temple is easily accessible with a red bus ride costing just 30 Baht from the city center.

Founded in 1502 during the reign of King Kaeo, the 11th ruler of the Mangri Dynasty, the temple has undergone multiple reconstructions over the centuries, including significant rebuilding after being bombed during World War II due to its proximity to a Japanese camp.

The temple is situated in the Haiya area, once the city’s silver district, where many silver workshops remain today. As you stroll through the area, you can hear the constant tapping of silver artisans at work.

Entrance and Silver Craftsmanship

At Wat Sri Suphan, women are not permitted to enter the main shrine. The silver craftsmanship here is truly remarkable, with the ordination hall primarily made from nickel and aluminum, though some silver is used for key images. The detailed metalwork—comprising repoussé and chasing techniques—covers both the interior and exterior of the building, creating a dazzling and intricate visual experience.

Repoussé involves pushing metal from behind with hammers to create raised designs, while chasing refers to working the metal from the front to refine the details. The resulting artwork makes the temple a photographer’s paradise.

For those interested, there is another “silver temple” nearby, Wat Muen San, just a 10-minute walk away, which allows women to enter.

The Silver Ubosot

The ubosot is an artistic masterpiece, completed in 2004. This building, traditionally used for the ordination of novice monks, showcases a variety of silversmithing work. The exterior is adorned with an extensive range of detailed carvings, featuring mythical creatures, deities, Buddhas, and angels, as well as large panels illustrating rural scenes and depictions of temples filled with figures.

The main entrance is reached by a set of steps covered with a blue-painted design of flowing water. Two Deva guardians in the anjali pose stand at the entrance, flanked by a multi-headed serpent cobra symbolizing Mucalinda, the serpent that protected the Buddha after his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.

The roof features two overlapping tiers with an array of roof finials. Nagas with dragon-like faces line the bargeboards, and the apex of each roof is crowned with chofas representing Garuda and elephants. At the top of the structure is a finial with seven gilt umbrellas.

Inside, the porch displays an impressive range of metalwork, including Buddhist and Hindu mythical figures, images of famous landmarks, and even cartoon characters.

Interior Details

Inside the ubosot, the walls are covered in finely detailed carvings of floral motifs and kranok patterns. The central Buddha image, Phra Jao Jed Tue, is a recent gold creation, contrasting with the surrounding metalwork. It sits in the Subduing Mara mudra on a raised dais, with lights strategically placed to highlight the image. Above it is a canopy and tower made of decorated metal, featuring small alcoves with Buddha images.

The back wall of the ubosot, facing west, is covered in intricate carvings of people worshiping in temples and receiving teachings from the Buddha under the Bodhi tree. The gold Buddha images stand out against the detailed carvings.

For those keen on learning more about the metalwork, there is a workshop next to the viharn, where you can observe the artisans in action and gain insight into their methods.

The Viharn

The viharn is a traditional Lanna-style building, devoid of silver details but with an exceptional four-tiered roof that is steeply pitched. The roof is adorned with nagas along the bargeboards and bird chofas at the apex, with a gilt umbrella finial at the center.

The entrance is flanked by two large yaksa figures and guarded by nagas along the balustrades. The facade is decorated with gilt floral motifs in panels, and the arch above the door is lavishly ornamented in gilt patterns.

Inside, the silversmiths have created panels depicting scenes from the Jataka tales and the Buddha’s life, along with gilded images on a red background. The ceiling is supported by teak columns with gilt lotus flower capitals and decorated with banners depicting zodiac animals.

The altar houses a central Buddha image surrounded by three smaller images, all in the Subduing Mara mudra, following the Chiang Saen style.

The Chedi

The chedi at Wat Sri Suphan follows the typical Lanna style, featuring an octagonal base with indented corners. The upper section consists of layered octagonal levels, topped by a bell-shaped structure and capped with a Burmese-style hti umbrella, from which small bells hang.

The Ho Trai

The ho trai or manuscript depository is a two-story building. The ground floor hosts an exhibition about the silversmiths of the Haiya area, while the upper floor, made of teak, houses Buddhist texts stored in manuscript boxes (though the upper floor is typically off-limits).

The roof features a decorated gable with nagas and chofa finials.

Other Features

In the temple grounds, you will also find an office offering meditation classes and monk chat sessions, allowing visitors to engage more deeply with the temple’s spiritual and cultural practices.

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The Wat Sri Suphan appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Chiang Mai!

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