Doi Suthep

Doi Suthep (ดอยสุเทพ), is a mountain ("doi") west of Chiang Mai, Thailand. It is 1,676 metres (5,499 ft) in elevation and is one of the twin peaks of a granite mountain. The other peak is known as Doi Pui and is slightly higher (1,685 m).

Doi Suthep is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Chiang Mai city centre. The vegetation below 1,000 m is mostly deciduous forest, with evergreen forest above this elevation.

The Doi Suthep - Doi Pui hill is part of the Thanon Thong Chai Range, the southernmost subrange of the Shan Highland system. Other high peaks of the same range are Doi Luang Chiang Dao (2,175 m), Doi Pui (1,685 m), and Doi Inthanon, the highest point in Thailand, at 2,565 m.

The temple Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is on top of a hill (around 1,060 m) forming Doi Suthep. This Buddhist place of worship dates back to the 13th century. It is an important venue for the devout and a legend featuring a white elephant is connected to this revered site. There are views of Chiang Mai city and its surroundings from the top of this mountain.

Suthep

Suthep (Thai: สุเทพ) is a tambon (subdistrict) of Mueang Chiang Mai District, in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. In 2005 it had a total population of 36,952 people. The tambon contains 15 villages.

References

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai (/ˈtʃjɑːŋˈmaɪ/, from Thai: เชียงใหม่  [tɕʰiəŋ màj], Lanna:ᨩ᩠ᨿᨦᩉ᩠ᨾᩲ᩵ [t͡ɕīaŋ.màj]) sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in Northern Thailand. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province and was a former capital of the Kingdom of Lan Na (1296–1768), which became a tributary state of the Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 to 1939. It is 700 km (435 mi) north of Bangkok and is situated amongst the highest mountains in the country. The city sits astride the Ping River, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya River.

Chiang Mai means "new city" and was so named because it became the new capital of the Lan Na kingdom when it was founded in 1296, succeeding Chiang Rai, the former capital founded in 1262.

Chiang Mai gained prominence in the political sphere in May 2006, when the Chiang Mai Initiative was concluded between the ASEAN nations and the "+3" countries (China, Japan, and South Korea). Chiang Mai was one of three Thai cities contending for Thailand's bid to host the World Expo 2020 (the others were Chonburi and Ayutthaya). Ayutthaya, however, was the city ultimately chosen by the Thai Parliament to register for the international competition.

Suthep Wongkamhaeng

Suthep Wongkamhaeng (Thai: สุเทพ วงศ์กำแหง) is a Thai singer sometimes referred to as a "crooner." He was named a National Artist in 1990. In 2003 he gained international attention because his song Pid Tang Rak (Wrong Way to Love) was among 18 songs deemed "improper" or offensive to "public decency," by the Ministry of Culture's Culture Watch Center. As the song was twenty years old, and he argued inoffensive, he reacted to the statement with surprise. In 2005 he sang at Princess Petcharat Rajsuda's 80th Anniversary at the request of the Cultural Council.

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Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (Thai: วัดพระธาตุดอยสุเทพ, Thai pronunciation: [wát.pʰráʔ.tʰâat.dɔɔj.sùʔ.tʰêep], Northern Thai pronunciation: [wa̋t.pʰa̋ʔ.tʰâat.dɔɔj.súʔ.têep]) is a Theravada wat in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. The temple is often referred to as "Doi Suthep" although this is actually the name of the mountain where it's located. It is a sacred site to many Thai people. The temple is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the city of Chiang Mai. From the temple, impressive views of Chiang Mai can be seen.

History

The original founding of the temple remains a legend and there are a few varied versions. The temple is said to have been founded in 1383 when the first stupa was built. Over time, the temple has expanded, and been made to look more extravagant with many more holy shrines added. A road to the temple was first built in 1935.

White elephant legend

According to legend, a monk named Sumanathera from the Sukhothai Kingdom had a dream. In this vision he was told to go to Pang Cha and look for a relic. Sumanathera ventured to Pang Cha and found a bone. Many claim it was Gautama Buddha's shoulder bone. The relic displayed magical powers: it glowed, it was able to vanish, it could move and replicate itself. Sumanathera took the relic to King Dhammaraja, who ruled Sukhothai. The eager Dhammaraja made offerings and hosted a ceremony when Sumanathera arrived. However, the relic displayed no abnormal characteristics, and the king, doubtful of the relic's authenticity, told Sumanathera to keep it.