Visit Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao (Lampang)

Like all temples with the name of Wat Phra Kaew, the temple hosted the Emerald Buddha which now stands at Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok. It was its first home and stayed there for 32 years in the 15th century. This is the most interesting temple inside Lampang City. Its main entrance is a staircase with two Nagas, a classic in Buddhist temples. Once you have climbed the stairs you will find on your left the statue of an elephant carrying a small pavilion housing a Buddha. It commemorates an event in Emerald Buddha legend. It was discovered in the early fifteenth century, when a lightning created a spade in Chiang Rai Wat Phra Kaew chedi. After its discovery, the king of Chiang Mai sent troops with an elephant to bring the image to Chiang Mai. But the elephant refused to take the road to Chiang Mai and ends up in Lampang. The most striking element of the temple is its 50 meters high partly golden chedi surrounded by a Buddha statue for each day of the week. This is the only thing that remains from the original temple. Behind the chedi, a beautiful wooden hall whith a interesting roof. Another building further houses a reclining Buddha. The temple also contains a small museum of Lanna art.
Next to Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao, Wat Suchadaram whose remaining buildings include an unusual pagodain front of which stands a wooden chapel and an wooden ordination hall closed to public. There is no real separation, but it is indeed two different temples juxtaposed.