A beautiful temple and if you're in Chiang Rai, you should definitely visit. During my visit, the temple was undergoing renovations, luckily still could visit the Wiharn Mai Lai Kham and walk around. The temple itself is quite beautiful.
Wat Ming Muang, a seven-hundred-year old temple under the supervision of the Thai Sankha Committee (6th region), is located on Trirat Road in the heart of Chiang Rai. The temple was built in 1262 during the reign of King Mengrai The Great (1239-1311), Thailand's second king honored with the highly respected title "the Great." His queen, Devi Usapayako, a daughter of the Burmese ruler in Hongsa, ordered the first renovation of the temple. She frequently made a royal visit to pay homage to the serene main Buddha statue enshrined in the temple's wooden vihara.
According to historical record, the temple is also a memorial of King Mengrai's mother, Queen Chommuang or Queen Thep Kamkayai, who preferred to come to practice meditation in the vihara as well. King Mengrai usually visited the temple to make merit at least twice a year-one in the full moon night of Visaka or the sixth month of the lunar calendar, and the other on Loy Krathong day, which falls on the twelfth month of the lunar calendar. In praying to the Lord Buddha, the king took a clockwise procession around the sacred pagoda in which his mother's ashes were kept.
Formerly, the temple was not known with its current name, yet it was commonly called 'Wat Chang Moop', which literally means 'temple of crouching elephant.' Thai archeological assumption pointed out that the King Sarm Faggan of Chiang Mai had the Emerald Buddha statue, the same one discovered at Wat Phra Kaew in Chiang Rai and enshrined in the Grand Palace in Bangkok, to be kept in his city. He, thus, ordered the procession of royal elephants to greet the statue. The temple then derived its name from the poised posture of the royal elephant.
Furthermore, this place served as one of the city gates of ancient Chiang Rai called "Pathu Padang," in which many ethnic Burmese Thais resided. Later in 1877, these group of people contributed in the renovation of the temple with exquisite art of Burmese architecture. In 1970, the temple was officially enlisted as a Buddhist temple of Thailand, and was renamed 'Wat Ming Muang', meaning 'the auspicious temple of the city.
Beauty of Lai Kham Wooden Wiharn, which is the mixture design of Thai Yai (Myanmar) and Lanna architecture. Its ceiling is built in Triphum (three worlds) style. On the roof ridge are decorated with 34 swan-figures.
The front entrance of Lai Kham Wooden Wiharn with 2 Deities guards at front.
Photo taken inside the main altar enshrine with Luang Phor Phra Sri Ming Muang.
The center Golden statue is Luang Phor Phra Sri Ming Muang, the ancient stucco Buddha image gilded over with lacquer Golden surface. Its age is more than 400 years old. The Buddha Image is exquisitely built in the style of Chiang Saen Singh 1 style with 80 inches of width with its lap. The rays of light stream from the hair bun of Buddha's head is in lotus shape carving from Lanna precious gemstones.
Right to left ~ The portrait of King MengRai (the founder of Ching Rai City), The Mother of King MengRai The Great and Parents of King MengRai The Great.
The beautiful wooden ceiling with Lanna architecture, Triphum (three worlds) style.
Wiharn Mai Lai Kham ~ Wooden Wiharn was undergoing renovation.
The sacred Ananda Fish 'bite' Kochasri guards in front the Pavilion.
Wat Ming Muang boasts beautiful Lanna architecture.
The sacred Chedi PhraThat Ming Muang is the place of the Buddha's relic. It is designed with the mixture of Myanmar and Lanna architecture. There are 4 ornamented with gilded tierred umbrella in the angels decorated with Myanmar Art style. Furthermore the relics of Chao Nang Talamae Sri (she was King Mengrai's wife), received from Somdet Phra Yanasangwon Somdet Phra Sangkharat, are housed inside the Chedi.
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