Home » Images » 0043 Pictures From History » CPA0021076

Thailand: The Luang Pho Khao Buddha image at the site of Wat Sadeu Muang (aka Wat Inthakin), Chiang Mai

Wat Inthakin (วัด อินทขีล) also known as Wat Sadeu Muang (วัด สะดื เมือง) or ‘Temple of the City Navel’, was once the location of the lak muang or city pillar, known as the Sao Inthakhin or ‘Pillar of Indra’. As such, it was – and is – a locality imbued with the greatest spiritual and ritual significance. It is not recorded when the city pillar was first set up here, but it is likely to have been at the founding of the city by King Mangrai in 1296.

Chiang Mai, sometimes written as 'Chiengmai' or 'Chiangmai', is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand, and is the capital of Chiang Mai Province. It is located 700 km (435 mi) north of Bangkok, among the highest mountains in the country. The city is on the Ping river, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya river.

King Mengrai founded the city of Chiang Mai (meaning 'new city') in 1296, and it succeeded Chiang Rai as capital of the Lanna kingdom. The ruler was known as the Chao. The city was surrounded by a moat and a defensive wall, since nearby Burma was a constant threat.

Chiang Mai formally became part of Siam in 1774 by an agreement with Chao Kavila, after the Thai King Taksin helped drive out the Burmese. Chiang Mai then slowly grew in cultural, trading and economic importance to its current status as the unofficial capital of northern Thailand, second in importance only to Bangkok.