According to one story, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep was founded when a fragment of the Gautama Buddha’s shoulder bone was placed on the back of a white elephant, who climbed the mountain and trumpeted three times before falling dead. King Nu Naone interpreted this as an omen and ordered a temple to be constructed at the site.
Over the centuries, the original temple was expanded to include shrines, pagodas, statues and a monastery. The holiest spot is the Emerald Buddha and a statue of the Hindu god Ganesh.
In order to reach Wat Suthep, visitors must climb 306 steps, which are intended to be used as a meditation exercise.
Getting There
G Adventures runs a number of departures encompassing a wide range of departure dates and activities to cater for different tastes. We’re thrilled at the prospect of showing you this big blue planet of ours — check out our small group trips to Thailand here.
