The Secret Jungle Temple – Wat Pha Lat in Chiangmai Northern Thailand

After went to Chiangmai zoo, I then decided to go to the hidden temple – Wat Pha Lat (Wat Palad) . A Jungle temple which is closed to the zoo and you can either choose to hike by following the trail of the monks or you can take a car to arrive. As I’m not a good hiker so which would be better to take the ‘Songthaewsto’ – The Red Truck to this special hidden places.

Before I decided to visit this place, I have read the story behind and found it is so mysterious and attractive. There’s almost NO reason for me not to come! Personally I don’t really like to visit the very ‘Tourist’ place and a place where less tourist would find the peaceful and of course I can feel free to take beautiful pictures without any person in my shot. So let me tell you the story before I show you more beautiful pictures of this SPECIAL temple.

The Story of the Secret Temple

Wat Pha Lat also call the “Monastery at the Sloping Rock”, was originally a resting place for people while they are walking up to worship at Doi Suthep. This temple was constructed in around 1355. The King Kuena’s White elephant has stopped and rest in Wat Pha Lat whilst walking up the mountain for it’s journey to find a place for the holy temple. Finally the white elephant then died at the high up mountain – Doi Sutheo temple ( which the famous temple) and the King ordered people to construct a temple in the very first place where the white elephant died. Nevertheless, he also ordered to construct the 3 places where the white elephant took rest and Wat Pha Lat is one of the place. Those places were then considered as holy places. Also Wah Pha Lat is only a few kilometers to the famous one – Doi Sutheo temple.