Wat Phra That Doi Wao

Wat Phra That Doi Wao is a historic Buddhist temple atop Doi Wao hill in Wiang Phang Kham, Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai, near the Thailand-Myanmar border. Founded in the Lanna period and enshrining sacred Buddha relics in its ancient chedi, it is notable for its hilltop viewpoint overlooking Mae Sai and Tachileik, its long naga-flanked staircase, and its large scorpion statue reflecting the temple's name. It remains an important religious and cultural landmark of Thailand's northernmost town.

Visitors can expect a hilltop temple complex reached by a long naga-flanked staircase or a short uphill road. The compound includes an ancient gilded chedi enshrining Buddha relics, Buddha images, a large scorpion statue, and open terraces offering panoramic views over Mae Sai town, the border checkpoint and Tachileik in Myanmar. The setting is quiet and elevated, with shaded pavilions, bells, and areas for merit-making and photography.

Wat Phra That Doi Wao is an ancient Lanna temple believed to have been founded over 700 years ago, traditionally associated with the early Lanna period. The chedi is said to enshrine sacred Buddha relics and has been restored several times. The name Doi Wao refers to scorpions, linked to a local legend about the hill. The temple has long served as a spiritual center for the northernmost border community.

The temple is an important Buddhist religious site for Mae Sai residents and visitors, serving as a place for merit-making, worship and festivals. The scorpion emblem and hilltop chedi are cultural symbols of Mae Sai, and the temple's border viewpoint makes it a distinctive landmark representing the northernmost point of Thailand.