Wat Phra That Chedi Luang
Wat
Phra That Chedi Luang is situated in the small ancient historical
town of Chiang Saen, a former principality of the kingdom
of Lanna. It is located next door to the Chiang Rai provincial
branch of the National Museum.
 The
origins of Wat Phra That Chedi Luang are not entirely clear,
though most experts agree it was likely as not built sometime
between the 12th and 14th centuries - with a common belief
that King Saen Phu may
have had it constructed around 1331, as the town's principal
monastery. This theory makes sense bearing in mind the mixture
of classic Lanna and Chiang Saen styles that the wat still
reflects.
Like
many other wats from this particular period, Wat Phra That
Chedi Luang has unfortunately over the centuries fallen into
a sad state of disrepair - with most of the ruins are now
covered in mold and long grass. Nevertheless, it still boasts
a fine brick built octagonal shape base chedi, which at nearly
60 m tall was once the highest religious structure in the
Lanna kingdom.
The
wat's wihan building is also in quite a bad state and is currently
being protected by a rather inappropriate and presumably only
stopgap corrugated iron roof!
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