The West Side: Forest Temples & The Reservoir
The mountain side of the city, below the climb to Doi Suthep. Forest temples, an artisan village, a hillside chedi with the whole plain below it, and a reservoir that fills with students at sunset. All within twenty minutes of Nimman.
An in-city day, written to be done on two wheels. Inside the moat a small scooter is faster, cheaper and far easier to park than a car, and several of these lanes are closed to cars anyway. There are no distances here on purpose: you park once and walk.
The day
- 1
Wat Umong
A forest monastery built around brick tunnels dug into the hillside six centuries ago, with a broken-image garden where damaged Buddhas are laid to rest among the trees. Cool, dim, and the calmest place in the city.
1–2 hrs · donationTourism Directory →Ministry of Tourism & Sports · Ministry of Tourism & Sports, Thailand 🚲 10 min - 2
Baan Kang Wat
A purpose-built village of small studios — ceramics, printmaking, weaving, bookbinding — with a weekend market and workshops you can join. Somewhere between a craft school and a neighbourhood.
2 hrs · freeTourism Directory →Stand-in photo: Wat Umong, next door to the artists' village · Ministry of Tourism & Sports · Ministry of Tourism & Sports, Thailand 🚲 15 min - 3
Wat Phra That Doi Kham
A hillside temple south of the city with an enormous seated Buddha and a view over the plain. Locals come to make offerings of jasmine; visitors mostly do not come at all, which is the appeal against Doi Suthep's crowds.
1 hr · free
Wikipedia →ManoiCMU · CC BY 4.0 🚲 20 min - 4
Chiang Mai Zoo
Below the mountain road. A conventional zoo; included here because it is the standard family answer in this part of town rather than because it competes with the rest of this day.
half day · entry fee
Tourism Directory →Ministry of Tourism & Sports · Ministry of Tourism & Sports, Thailand 🚲 10 min - 5
Ang Kaew reservoir
On the university campus at the foot of the mountain. A loop path around the water, Doi Suthep directly behind it, and half the student population there at sunset. Bring something to sit on.
1 hr · free
Tourism Directory →Ministry of Tourism & Sports · Ministry of Tourism & Sports, Thailand
Getting around
All five are on the western edge and easily linked by bike. The campus is open to visitors; ride slowly and give way to pedestrians. Doi Kham's approach is steep in the last kilometre but short.
