Wat Sri Suphan — Attraction in Chiang Mai Province

Wat Sri Suphan also called The Silver Temple is truly one of the most beautiful temples in Chiang Mai. This unique temple is almost completely clad in silver. It is one of a kind in Thailand and perhaps in Asia.

Wat Sri Suphan is also known as the Silver Temple because the entire surface of the temple, inside and out, is being covered in sparkling silver handcrafted decoration. Originally built around 1500 Wat Sri Suphan is also one of the oldest temples in Chiang Mai.

Wat Sri Suphan is an amazing, unique and intrinsic work of architectural marvel built entirely by the skilled traditional workers from the local community. Even if you’re not a temple fan, or you think that you’ve seen enough temple in Chiang Mai already, this temple’s unique nature and being the only one of its kind in Thailand still make it worth the visit.

The temple is located at Wualai District, Chiang Mai’s traditional silver-making village just south of the old city. Due to its location in a quiet neighbourhood, Wat Sri Suphan is relatively unknown and doesn’t see a lot of tourists compared with the temples on the mountain and inside the historical old city.

Wat Sri Suphan is spectacular yet not touristy as it’s slightly outside the city walls. The entire surface of the temple, inside and out, is being covered in silver.

Crafted out of silver and aluminium, the Silver Temple sits within the silversmith district and showcases the intricate work of the local people.

As one of the oldest temples in Chiang Mai, Wat Sri Suphan was originally built in the 16th century during the Mangrai Dynasty when the 11th king of Lanna Kingdom, Phra Muang Kaew, ruled the kingdom between 1495 and 1525.

Since the original construction, the temple have been rebuilt and renovated over the different historical periods and in modern time.

Today’s Silver Temple is the result of a renovation from 2008 to 2016 performed by the silver craftsman in the surrounding Wua Lai community who have built up an impressive knowledge of fine metalwork over many generations.

Wat Sri Suphan is a modern architectural marvel built entirely by the skilled traditional workers from the local community.

Wat Sri Suphan is a unique and exquisite modern interpretation of traditional Lanna design. From the walls to the roff, the temple is completely covered in a combination of silver, nickel, and aluminum. Even the Buddha statues are covered in silver.

Most of the work is carried out using aluminium (areas where silver isn’t practical) with precious silver being reserved for the holy images and the most crucial architectural elements. However that should not detract from the actual workmanship itself as it’s incredible and highly detailed.

Wat Sri Suphan is a small but impressive silver construction, the details are majestic and you certainly will lost some minutes observing every inch of the building’s detailed artwork.

When viewed up closed you can see great variety of decorations pounded into the silver panels on both sides of the temple with incredibly detailed silver carving displaying scenes and key moments from the life of Buddha.

You’ll also see figures from rural life, religious mythology, the zodiac animals etc. Although this isn’t pure silver but an aluminum-silver alloy, it looks pretty real and...

I think this is one of the most unique, beautiful and - why not - fun temples not even in Chiang Mai, but Thailand. Just love it! I get a lot of women feel upset for not being allowed to enter inside (especially western women), but rather than come with the rage of your own background (probably Abrahamic), ask yourself why so. Even if you don't share the beliefs behind it, you are a guest and therefore you only respect what they believe. I felt fine about it, but I found it very interesting that, during my visit, most visitors were, in fact, women. As far as I could inform myself, there are two things on it: relics buried beneath the silver hall always carry spirits and it is a Lanna believe those spirits feel disturbed with female presence, as well as this disturbance can be harmful to women's souls. They offer a QR to have a look on the inside. There is also a QR with the story of the temple, but it's only in Thai. As a history neerdy, i was upset there was no English subtitle, although the card for the qr was English. I'm pretty sure subtitles wont be a massive work in a 1:30 minutes videos, and are much appreciated for those who want to learn more about Lanna culture!

Being a quite recent work of a community, the silver temple carries some surprises and actually helped me to understand a bit more of Thai Buddhism iconography in the old temples. Apart from mythical passages and Buddhism stories and Theravada Buddhism deities, you will see yourself facing homenages to world's humanwork monuments and some remarkable cities around the world. To my amusement, there's also an artwork with Avengers on its walls 😂

The whole complex is worth a stroll around. It's very community-based, with silvercrafts happening along the day, monks offering lessons on Buddhism and meditation, massage and herbal classes. I love how Thai temples usually have a school connected to it. Says a lot about the role of the temples till nowadays.

Cheers to the community who creates, worships and takes care of Wat Sri...

I recently visited Wat Sri Suphan, also known as the Silver Temple, in Chiang Mai. Getting there was really easy. I was staying inside the Old City, so I decided to walk, it took me about 15 minutes. But if you prefer, you can grab a tuk-tuk or a songthaew for a quick ride, and it’s very affordable. The entrance fee was 50 THB (around 1.40 USD), which included a small keychain and a bottle of water. The ticket was valid all day, so I could leave and come back later to see the temple illuminated at night. As soon as I stepped inside, I was amazed by the beauty of the place. The ordination hall is entirely covered in silver and aluminum, with intricate carvings that tell stories of Buddhism, Thai culture, and even daily life. The craftsmanship is breathtakin, I spent a long time just looking at the details. One important thing to know: women are not allowed to enter the ordination hall (Ubosot) due to religious tradition. They can still admire the temple from outside, which is equally stunning, and there are digital screens nearby where you can see the interior. Regarding dress code, make sure to cover your shoulders and knees before entering. Shoes must be removed before stepping into temple areas, as is common in Thailand. What I really loved was the atmosphere. In the evenings, the temple glows with colorful lights, and since it’s close to the Saturday Night Market, you can easily combine both experiences. During the day, you can also join monk chats, learn about meditation, or even watch local silversmiths working in the nearby workshops. Overall, Wat Sri Suphan felt very unique compared to other temples I visited in Chiang Mai. It’s a small temple, but the artistry and history make it truly special. If you’re exploring the city, don’t miss it, go both during the day and at night if you can. It’s worth...