Wat Chiang Man

   located on Ratchaphakkinai Road, this is Chiang Mai's oldest temple and probably dates from 1296. The temple was the residence of King Mengrai, who founded Chiang Mai, and is noteworthy for a chedi supported by rows of elephantine buttresses.
   The temple houses two sacred ancient Buddha images. The larger of the two, Phra Sila (or stone Buddha) is a stone bas-relief which was imported from either India or Sri Lanka around 2,500 years ago. The smaller, Phra Sae Tang Kamani (or crystal Buddha) heighten only around 10 cm and is thought to have originally come from Lopburi around 1,800 years ago. The stupa in this temple imitates the stupa at Si Satchanalai.