Consider the year 1883. It was then that Wat Pa Pao was founded. This temple stands as a testament to the Burmese Shan community. They shaped its unique identity in Chiang Mai.
Wat Pa Pao offers a different view from the Lanna temples. It sits just outside the old city walls. Here, the Shan Burmese style shines. Many Shan Burmese workers migrated to Chiang Mai in the late 19th century. They came from the Shan states in Northeast Burma. Chiang Mai was then a hub for the Thai teak logging industry. These workers needed a place to worship. So they built Wat Pa Pao.
King Inthawichayanon of Chiang Mai supported the temple’s creation. The temple’s name means “grove of Pao trees temple.” A courtyard greets visitors, enclosed by a low wall. Arched brick gates mark the entrances. Inside, a large chedi and a viharn stand. The viharn is the temple’s assembly hall. Nearby, a newer Shan-style viharn adds to the site. There is also a smaller Burmese-style building.
The 19th-century wooden viharn was replaced. The current brick building has stuccoed ornaments. It is topped with a five-tiered Pyatthat roof. Colorful motifs decorate this roof. A golden ceremonial umbrella called a hti tops it off. Figures display respect on the low wall around the Pyatthat. They show the Anjali mudra or wai gesture.
Inside the viharn are three large Buddha images. The building’s walls feature murals but it is usually closed to the public. Next to the viharn is a large bell-shaped chedi. Small sculptures of mythical creatures adorn it. At each corner is a Qilin. This mythological creature brings good luck. It looks like a lion with a dragon’s head.
The chedi rests on square tiers that get smaller. Above these, there is a single octagonal tier. A golden spire and a multi-tiered hti top the bell. These are in Burmese style. Each side of the chedi has a large niche. It holds a Buddha image. Stairways lead to the niches. Qilin figures extend over the balustrades.
Wat Pa Pao hosts the annual Poi Sang Long festival. Shan youths become novice monks during this event. The festival lasts several days in early April. Shan people parade in traditional clothes. They are also known as Tai Yai. They move through the town in procession.
You will find Wat Pa Pao on Manee Nopparat Road. It is near the northeast corner of the old walled city. It is just north of the town walls and moat. Wat Pa Pao Primary School is next to it. You can walk to Wat Pa Pao from the old walled town. You can also rent a bicycle or hire a tuk-tuk. The temple grounds are open daily during daylight hours. But the buildings are usually locked. Admission is free.
Wat Pa Pao is more than just a temple. It is a place of worship. It is a community center. It is a school that preserves Shan language. It is a cultural treasure. It reflects the history and spirit of the Shan people in Chiang Mai.