Wat Chet Yot

The Wat Chet Yot is located on the Chiang Mai - Lampang Super Highway, north of the Huai Kaeo and Nimmanhemin Road intersection.

The Wat dates from 1455 and was built by King Tilokarat after he sent Lanna architects to study at Bodhgava - the site of the Buddha's Enlightenment in north India over 2,500 years ago. The resulting design is very much of Indian influence. In fact it is thought that the wat was heavily influenced by the design of the Mahabodhi temple in Pagan, which itself was an exact copy of the Indian temple at Bodhgaya.

As the Wat's name (in Thai) suggests, there are seven square chedi within the complex. These stand on top of the old vihan in which there is an arched cave containing a Buddha image. The most interesting feature of the wat is the series of over seventy, much damaged, but still very beautiful, stucco celestial beings that decorate the walls of the base. Their intricate clothes and jewellery and their lovely smiling faces are Lanna art at its finest.

There are a further three chedi that stand in the spacious complex grounds - the largest contains King Tilokarat's remains. There is also a fine carved wood gable on the small bot that is situated nearby. The grounds of the temple are tranquil and spacious, shaded by many old trees.

In 1477 Wat Chet Yot hosted the Eighth World Buddhist council, which was convened to revise the 'Tripitaka" (Buddhist canon and teachings) - the results of the conference have unfortunately been lost.

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