Wat Pong Sanuk Nuea

It situated in Tambon Wiang Nuea, was built in the reign of King Anantayot who visited Khelang Nakhon town in 680 A.D. According to evidence, it was found that Wat Pong Sanuk had 4 names: Wat Si Chom Khlai, Wat Si Chiang Phum, Wat Don Kaeo, and Wat Phayao. The highlight is Mon Doi, a replica of Mount Sumeru that is a location of Wihan Phrachao Phan Ong. The wooden Wihan was built in the form of a mondop with a three-tiered roof. On the roof’s ridge above all four porches is situated a small wooden replica castle covered with perforated galvanized sheet, which symbolises the four continents around Mount Sumeru. The Wihan’s building features the combination arts of Lanna, Burmese and Chinese that is the only one of its kind in Thailand. The middle chamber of the Wihan enshrines four Buddha fgures facing toward all four directions seated under the Bodhi Phruek tree made of lead. The base of the Buddha images are decorated with the designs of elephants, nagas, lions, and eagles. It was believed that this Wihan was built by a Chiang Saen artisan replicating the gilded house of Xiang Kiang town (Xiang Zheng) in Xishuangbanna, China, which is no longer existent nowadays.The temple received the Asia-Pacifc Heritage Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation (Award of Merit) from UNESCO in 2008.