Wat Phra That Mae Yen

Wat Phra That Mae Yen is a hilltop Buddhist temple located east of Pai town in Wiang Tai Subdistrict, Pai District, Mae Hong Son Province, northern Thailand. Perched on a hill overlooking the Pai valley, it is known for its large white seated Buddha image visible from the town below and its 353-step Naga staircase. The temple offers panoramic views of Pai, surrounding mountains and rice fields, and is a popular viewpoint for sunrise and sunset.

Visitors can expect a hilltop temple complex reached via a long staircase of 353 steps flanked by Naga balustrades or via a paved road to the upper parking area. At the top is a large white seated Buddha statue, a white chedi enshrining Buddha relics, and an open terrace with 360-degree views over Pai town, the Pai River valley and surrounding mountains. The grounds include prayer halls, bells and merit-making areas in a quiet, forested hillside setting.

Hilltop temple enshrining Buddha relics in its white chedi, serving as a religious landmark for Pai. The large white Buddha image and staircase are more recent additions that have made it a prominent local landmark.

Active Theravada Buddhist temple and important religious site for the local community in Pai, used for merit-making, prayer and Buddhist observances, and respected as a viewpoint temple overlooking the town.