Wat Duang Dih (วัดดวงดี)

Thai. ‘Temple of Good Luck’, but also ‘Temple of the Auspicious Stars’ or ‘Temple of Good Karma’. Name of a small Lan Na-style Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, located within the walls of the old city, near the Three Kings Monument (fig.). Its buildings are characterized by carved wood architecture, and it has a redented chedi with on its square base a statue of an elephant on each of its corners. It has a rather small ubosot and hence the larger wihaan is typically used by the monks and novices to assemble for prayers. It is one of the oldest temples in Chiang Mai, and it is assumed that it was built sometime shortly after King Mengrai (fig.) founded Chiang Mai, and was at some point used as a school for the children of the local nobility. Throughout its existence, the temple has been known by a variety of names, including Wat Phantunom Dih or Wat Phantunom Dih (วัดพันธุนมดี); Wat Udom Dih or Wat Udom Dee (วัดอุดมดี); Wat Phanom Dih or Wat Phanom Dee (วัดพนมดี); and Wat Ton Mahk Neua (วัดต้นหมากเหนือ), i.e. ‘Temple of the Northern Betel Nut Tree’, of which an derivation is still used today by some as yet another name, i.e. Wat Phan Dih or Wat Phandee (วัดพันธู์ดี), which translates as ‘Temple of the Good Strain’. Wat Duang Dih was declared an ancient monument by the Fine Arts Department in 1981. Also transliterated Wat Duangdee. WATCH VIDEO. 回