Thailand, the Land of Smiles, has so many things to offer for everyone. This is a perfect place to spend your holiday with friends and loved ones. And when planning to visit Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand, don’t forget to drop by one of the country’s best tourist destinations: Wat Umong.
Wat Umong is more than just a temple; it’s a massive complex with 4 areas – the pond with catfish and pigeons, the tunnels with Buddha figures, the Pagoda (Chedi) upstairs, and the back garden with the historic Buddha images, which some of them got their bodies and heads damaged.
All around the temple complex, you will be able to see inspirational Buddhist quotes that will make you feel at peace and, who knows, it’ll maybe help you find your inner peace. Let’s go through all the details.
What is Wat Umong?
In a place full of temples, Wat Umong (Complete name: Umong Suan Puthatham) is one the most exceptional temples in Chiang Mai. This temple has a set of old tunnels in the western corners of the settlement in the woody mountain mounts. Buddhist monks are still using these tunnels up to this point.
According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the temple was built by King Mengrai in 1296.
The king met with a monk regularly in Chiang Mai, who chose to meditate inside a tunnel. As the town developed and the priest found it harder to find a quiet place to meditate, King Mangrai directed a structure of tunnels to erect erected on the woody edge of the settlement.
Wat Umong was used until the fifteenth century, until it was abandoned mysteriously. But in 1948, renovation works started, including fixing the stupa as well as removing the build-up of dirt from the tunnel, and the temple was reopened one year later.
At this point, the temple is an active center utilized by locals and monks. The network of tunnels once more contains different shrines. There is a big and rare sculpture of the Buddha sitting atop one of these tunnels and hiding amongst the threes.
Where is Wat Umong?
While Wat Umong is nestled in a peaceful and quiet complex out of the old city, it’s pretty easy to get here from anywhere in Chiang Mai. It is located right behind Suthep Road, 10 minutes by car from Nimman and 15 minutes from the Old City.
How to Get to Wat Umong?
There are many ways to get to Wat Umong. Book a taxi, a songthaew or tuk-tuk, or just rent a scooter. Of course, a Grab taxi is the easiest and most comfortable way to get to Wat Umong and won’t cost you more than $3 from the Old City or Nimman, the main tourist area.
Songthaew can also take you to Wat Umong; this is a pick-up truck converted with benches installed in the back. They don’t follow a fixed course, so you have to negotiate a fare with the driver. Usually, the fare is 30 Baht for every passenger, one way.
On the other hand, if you want to make your life easier while discovering all the secrets that Wat Umong hides, then you can join a tour to Doi Suthep and Wat Umong, definitely the best way to make the most of the tunnel temple!
Wat Umong Opening Times
Wat Umong is open to visitors from 5.00 AM to 8.00 PM daily. I recommend coming early in the morning to see the tunnels lit, which surely adds a layer of authenticity. And on top of that, you’ll get to wander around the temple, feed the catfish and pigeons, and read the different Buddhist quotes all around the place.
Wat Umong Entrance Fee
There’s no entrance fee at Wat Umong, and you can roam around freely – the entrance to the tunnels is also free.
Best Wat Umong Tours
What to Expect at Wat Umong
Wat Umong has so many things to offer that will surely fascinate you from the moment you get in, here are the different areas to explore.
The Tunnels
One of the many things the temple offers visitors is the network of tunnels dug out of mounds that have shrines with images of Buddha. Devotees or even guests can pay respect to the Buddha.
The Damaged Buddha Artifacts
Along the road around the hillock, you will see the collection of ruined images of Buddha, speckled within its grounds, stuck between the bushes. Some of the images, with the head as its remnants were finally brought from many other shrines or temples.
The Inspiration Quotes All-Around
Along the pathway through the woody toward the lake, you will see signs with inspiration quotes hung from bushes in English and Thai languages. Some of them are as follows:
“Today is better than two tomorrow.”
“Love is Devine; lust is a devil.”
“Nothing is permanent. Things go in and go out.”
“All things arise, exist, and expire.”
The Pond with Catfish and Pigeons
In the wood on the shrine grounds, you will find a beautiful pond with lots of catfish, turtles and pigeons waiting to be fed. You can buy food from the vendors located nearby and a bag of bread will only cost you 10THB ($0.30), try it, yo won’t regret it. This is a perfect place if you are an animal lover.
Wat Umong Meditation Center
The big, shady temple grounds are often filled with sounds of monks praying or chanting. The meditation center is in a natural lake within a woody area, making it a superb place to meditate. This meditation center hosts meditation lessons and Dhamma talks as well.
More Thailand Travel Guides
- Best Day Trips from Bangkok
- Best Tour to Ayutthaya from Bangkok
- Awesome Day Trips from Chiang Mai
- Thailand Itinerary for 1 Week to 1 Month
- 11 Incredible Things to Do in Chiang Mai
- How to Get to Doi Suthep from Chiang Mai
More Temples in Chiang Mai
Conclusion
Wat Umong is one of the prettiest destinations in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Many visitors, both locals and from other countries, visit the place yearly, and many of those visitors return. Make sure to include this place in your bucket list to experience the history of Thailand.
