Wat Buppharam is a Buddhist temple located along Tha Phae Road in the heart of Chiang Mai. It was founded in 1497 during the reign of King Mueang Kaeo, making it one of the city’s older religious sites. The temple later became historically significant when Kawila, the leader who helped reclaim Chiang Mai after nearly two centuries of Burmese rule, began his ceremonial circumambulation of the city here as part of the reoccupation rites.

Most of the structures seen today date to the late nineteenth century. The temple is best known for its Burmese-style chedi, rebuilt in 1958, which reflects the long cultural links between northern Thailand and Myanmar. Another notable feature is the Lanna-style ordination hall built in 1819. Made of teak and decorated with glass inlay mosaics, it shows the craftsmanship typical of that period and adds a distinctive character to the temple complex.

We visited Wat Buppharam in the evening, so we were only able to see the exterior. Even so, the chedi and the ordination hall were clearly visible, giving a good sense of the temple’s architectural style.