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ThailandDescription and is it worth a visit
Wat Lok Molee (Wat Lok Molee or Wat Lok Moli) is one of the oldest and most significant temples in Chiang Mai, located outside the city walls near the northern gate of Chang Phueak Gate. It is not one of the most popular and famous among tourists, but we can confidently say that it is one of the hidden gems of Chiang Mai. It stands out for its not flashy, but at the same time beautiful exterior: it is decorated with fine teak wood carvings and silver patterns. Another feature of it is a massive mortar made of unadorned brick, which distinguishes it from most other snow–white stupas. And finally, there is one more feature that is not obvious at first glance to most tourists: the temple is located along the north–south axis, while most Buddhist temples are oriented to the east, towards the rising sun.
The exact date of construction of the Mole Lock is unknown, but it is assumed that it appeared in the XIV century, since the first mention of it is found in the charter of 1367. The sixth king of the Mengrai dynasty, King Kuena, invited ten Buddhist monks from Burma to spread their teachings on Theravada Buddhism, the monks were housed in this temple. In 1527, under King Ket (also known as Muangketklao or Phra Keo Muang), a massive brick stupa (chedi) appeared in the temple, and in 1545 he also ordered the construction of a viharn. Until the decline of their dynasty, the Mengrai royal family assumed responsibility for the maintenance of the temple. The ashes of several members of the Mengrai dynasty were placed in this temple. In the XVIII century, the Mole Lock was abandoned, but not destroyed, and only in the last century it was restored.
🕐 Working hours
From 06:00 to 18:00.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price
Free of charge.
🚶 How to get there
Wat Lok Moli is located on the north side of the old town behind the city wall (temple on Chiang Mai map). It is easy to get here on foot from anywhere in the old town, or you can take a tuk-tuk, minibus or taxi through the Grab, Maxim applications, the cost of the trip is about 100 baht. Learn more about transportation in Chiang Mai and what to use here...
Friends, we remind you that it is much more interesting to get acquainted with the sights of Thailand with the help of excursions, and therefore we advise you to look at options with online booking and reviews on these excursion aggregators: