Wat Phra Singh sits at the western end of Ratchadamnoen Road in the heart of the old city and is widely considered Chiang Mai's most important temple. The complex dates to 1345, when King Pha Yu built it to house his father's ashes.
The star of the compound is Lai Kham Chapel, a small Lanna-style building with exquisite gilded woodwork and interior murals depicting daily life in 19th-century northern Thailand. Inside sits the Phra Singh Buddha, a highly venerated image that draws steady streams of worshippers. During Songkran the image is paraded through the streets for ritual bathing.
The grounds are large and well maintained, with a library raised on a stuccoed base, a tall golden chedi, and several smaller shrine halls. Early morning is the quietest time to visit. Monks are often happy to chat in the shaded pavilions.