Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao Suchadaram is an important religious site in Lampang. This temple has a rich history dating back hundreds of years and is one of the recognizable symbols of the city. A visit to this place is a must if Lampang is your destination.
Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao Suchadaram – from the past to the present
Beginnings
This third-class royal temple has its origins in the 14th or 15th century. It is believed that it was built on the site of an old temple from the times of the Hariphunchai Kingdom (7th-13th century, currently Lamphun). The old structure was probably built by the son of Queen Cadamdevi – first ruler of Hariphunchai.
Emerald Buddha at Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao Suchadaram
According to one legend, the famous statue of the Emerald Buddha stood here between 1434 and 1468, which can now be seen in Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok.
There is an interesting legend associated with this statue. When Sam Fang Kaen, the ruler of the Lanna Kingdom, was transporting the monument from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai, an unexpected event occurred. The elephant carrying the king began to panic after reaching a junction near Lampang. The animal insisted three times to go to the city. This was taken as a sign, and the temple thus became the home of the Emerald Buddha for a time.
Within the temple grounds, there is a monument of an elephant carrying a statue commemorating this event. Moreover, according to legend, Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao was founded on the site of this event. Additionally, historical sources indicate the presence of the statue in the Lanna Kingdom during this period.
Two temples combined into one
The current complex actually consists of two temples. The first of them was built by King Anantayot, ruler of Khelang Nakhon Province (now Lampang). He was the son of the aforementioned Queen Camadevi. I also mentioned that the current temple was built on the site of the first one. In the past, it had slightly shorter names – Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao or Wat Phra Kaew. The second temple is Wat Suchadaram. I will explain the origin of its name in a moment.
In 1984, the Ministry of Education, through the Religious Affairs Department, decided to combine both temples into one, hence the name Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao Suchadaram. In 1935, the Fine Arts Department declared Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao Suchadram a historic site.
Wat Suchadaram – the legend of a local woman
The name of this temple is related to the story of Lady Suchada, a laywoman who served in the temple. According to legend, one day she brought a watermelon to offer it to the monk. After cutting the watermelon, it turned out that there was an emerald in it. The monk then hired a craftsman to carve a Buddha statue from the emerald called Phra Kaew Don Tao.
Unfortunately, someone came to complain to the Governor of Lampang, saying that Suchada and the monk were having an affair. As a result of this complaint, Suchada was arrested and executed. When the monk found out about it, he decided to run away and take the statue, which is now in Wat Phra That Lampang Luang.
The most important information for tourists
Location Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao Suchadaram
The temple is located near the Wang River on Prakaew Rd in Wiang Nuea Sub-District of Lampang District.
Access
You can get to the place by renting a songthaew or a taxi. There is no public transport in Lampang, such as buses. Another option to get there is by private car.
Opening hours
The temple is open from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Admission price
The entry fee is 40 THB.
There is a small, dark brown booth roughly in the center of the complex – this is where you can buy your entry ticket. It may happen that no one will be in the booth during the visit. In this situation, money is left in the container at the window.
Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao Suchadaram – visiting the temple buildings
Ubosot and the Royal Viharn
The building is a combination of Lanna and Rattanakosin art. The condition of the original temple deteriorated, which resulted in its renovation. This was undertaken by the famous Buddhist monk, Kruba Siwichai. He became the chairman of the renovation committee, and his disciple, Kruba Aphichai Khaopi, supervised the construction until its completion. A large image of the Buddha in the Māravijaya posture was also made at this time. In addition, there is a main statue of the Enlightened One inside called Phra Chao Thanjai from an old temple.
The pediment has a tiger sculpture, which refers to the year of birth of Kruba Siwichai. There is also an image of Narayana riding on a Garuda, which means that the city is under Siamese rule.
Phra Borommathat Don Tao
This gigantic stupa is 50 m high and is the oldest original structure of Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao Suchadaram. There is a legend that long ago Buddha gave his hair as an offering at this place. These relics are kept in the pagoda.
The chedi has undergone many renovations and reconstructions. The stupa is characterized by Lanna style with Burmese influences.
Temple of the Reclining Buddha
No, I don’t mean the famous Wat Pho. In Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao Suchadaram you can see a smaller building next to the pagoda.
There is a statue of the Reclining Buddha inside the temple. This monument was made in the Chiang Saen style. It is said that this statue is as old as the temple itself.
Phra Ubosot Suchada
A small building that was built around the same time as the Viharn Lai Kham Suchada next to it. Inside, in a small room, there are images of Buddha. The ubosot is designed to stand on a raised base. The beautifully decorated porch also attracts attention.
Phra Viharn Lai Kham Suchada
The building is bigger than its neighbor. The interior is decorated with paintings depicting the ten lives of Buddha, as well as stories related to him.
While exploring the interior, you will see a large Buddha statue, 5 m wide. You will also see nicely carved pillars and various elements.
Pavilion in Burmese style
Near the pagoda and the royal temple, there is a building characterized by Burmese architecture. The pavilion houses a stucco Buddha statue covered with gold leaf and decorated with colored glass. It was made by Boonyawat Wongmanit, the ruler of Lampang (1898-1922). In addition, there are beautiful wooden sculptures in the pavilion.
Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao Suchadaram – other objects
The temple complex has many smaller and larger buildings and monuments.
There is a statue of Nan Thipchang, the sharpshooter who initiated the uprising against the Burmese. Furthermore, you can see the ruins of the ancient Wat Lam Chang pagoda or the Suchada Stupa. There are a lot of places to discover in the temple, and here you can find something interesting everywhere.
Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao Suchadaram – summary
The temple is definitely a popular and important tourist attraction. This is one of the main places worth going to when visiting Lampang. Here, a rich past meets stunning architecture. Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao Suchadaram reflects the city’s history over the centuries.
The trip is also a great opportunity to learn more and see the amazing temple. If you come to northern Thailand and Lampang, be sure to visit this place.
