Wat Umong – Tunnel Temple Visit in Chiang Mai

Wat Umong – Tunnel Temple Visit in Chiang Mai

Wat Umong (วัดอุโมงค์ สวนพุทธธรรม; Wat Umong Suan Puthatham) is a 700-year-old Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Wat Umong is located against the mountains of Doi Suthep and is about 1 km south of the main campus of Chiang Mai University in Mueang Chiang Mai District. The temple occupies a tranquil setting and a small open zoo is stationed behind it.

It should not be confused with the temple with a similar name within the old city moat of Chiang Mai, whose full name is Wat Umong Maha Tera Chan.

The temple was built in 1297 by King Mangrai of the Lan Na dynasty. The entire Wat Umong complex consists of 37.5 rai (15 acres) of wooded grounds. Signs (proverbs) written in Thai and English hang from the trees on footpaths leading to the small lake where fish, pigeons, and turtles can be fed.

Wat Umong is unique in that the resident monks live in a very natural environment, and occasionally feed the deer that lives in the area. It also is possible to practice meditation at Wat Umong and to learn from the monks.

Attractions include a Buddha field of broken sculpture, a fasting Bodhisattva, a Spiritual Theatre of paintings similar to those at Suan Mokkh, reproductions of ancient Buddhist sculpture of India, and a library-museum. This last building offers many books on Buddhism and other philosophies as well as a collection of historic objects and Buddhist art.

Video Source: Mysterious TUNNEL temple Wat UMONG – Chiang Mai – Thailand from The Thailand Travellers on Youtube ⁄ CC BY