Doi Suthep Temple The Legend of White Elephant

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep
is a splendid temple situated on a summit of Suthep Mount 15 km. frome the city of Chiangmai.
The temple is a most sacred site to Chiangmaai people and many other from every part of the world.
The temple is build in Lannathai architecture with a main golden chedi (Thai buddhist pagoda) that contain a relic of Buddha.

Sumanathera a monk from Sukhothai anothe kingdom 250km. south of Chiangmai found the relic and took it to king Dharmmaraja who ruled the Sukhothai but the king doubtful of the relic's authenticity, told Sumanathera to keep it.
However, King Ku Na of the Lanna Kingdom (Chiangmai ancient) heard of the relic and offered the monk to take it to him instead.

The relic travel to the northern part of Thailand to king Ku Na then . king Ku Na was supposed to build a temple to entomb the relic. But then the relic apparently split in two.
The smaller piece of the relic was enshrined at a temple in Suandok and anothe one he didn't know where to build it so he placed the other piece of the relic on the back of a white elephant which was released in the jungle, allowed to roam where-ever it wanted .

After the long journey the elephant eventually climbed to the top of Suthep Mountain, when reach the summit it turned around,trumpeted three times, knelt down and died. It was interpreted as a sign and King Ku Na ordered the construction of a temple at the site. The legend said the relic was place inside the pagoda and the elephant was entomb some ware by the pagoda side.

The temple is devidee in to the outer and inner quarter. The golden pagoda is in the inner quarter, and you must wear not too short of skirt or trousers that long enough to cover your legs and remove your shoes to entering.

The outer quarter was a the surounding building, a large plaza and a lookout point where visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Chiang Mai far below.

There are two way to reach the temple after your transportation drive you to the foothill.
One is to climb up the 306 steps of naga staircase and other way is to get a tram for 20 baht fee of two way ticket.