Drive around the Old City to see city's moats and ruined city's walls. Start the temples tours with “Wat Chiang Man”, the oldest temple and probably dates from 1296. The temple was residence of King Mengrai, who founded Chiang Mai, and is noteworthy for a chedi supported by rows elephantine buttresses. Continue this tour with the most vital temple in Chiang Mai "Wat Chedi Luang" where the great chedi called "Phra Chedi Luang" is situated. This five hundred-year-old chedi was built by King Sean Muang Ma to enshrine the relics of his father at the end of 14th century. Even though it was destroyed in an earthquake in 1545, it was to remain the tallest structure in Chiang Mai for over five centuries. Also nearby is “Wat Phra Singh”, built by King Pha Yu to house the bones of his father King Kam Fu. The temple contains marvelous examples of Lanna art including a Lanna style viharn, "Viharn Lai Kham" and the finest small scripture repository of its type in the north.
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