Pilgrimage to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai

【Wat Phra That Doi Suthep】, also known as Wat Phra Singh or the Relic Temple, was built in 1383 and has a history of over 600 years. Nestled in the mountains, it is a famous Buddhist summer retreat in Thailand. The temple gets its name "Temple of the Two Dragons" from the two colorful multi-headed Naga sculptures guarding its sides. The 309-step staircase features two long emerald-green Nagas coiled along the railings. Thai dragons differ significantly from Chinese ones, often depicted with multiple heads. In Thai temples and religious sites, you'll encounter various mythical creatures believed to inhabit the Himavanta Forest of Mount Meru, considered the center of Buddhist and Hindu cosmology. These creatures appear in the Thai epic Ramakien, derived from the Indian Ramayana, including serpent gods, lion gods, crocodile gods, and swan gods. The Naga, a half-snake, half-deity figure (originally a multi-headed, cobra-like water spirit in Indian mythology), serves as the temple's guardian. The steps flanked by these divine serpents lead through lush jungle to this serene sanctuary. The temple resonates with Buddhist chants. Every corner—the corridors, main hall, and around the golden stupa—is adorned with seated and reclining Buddha statues, some gilded in gold, others carved from translucent jade. Beyond curious tourists, devout worshippers circle the stupa in prayer, refill lotus oil lamps, and offer incense and flowers after silent prostration. My mother and I completed our circumambulation in our own Chinese way.