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History of Wat Ku Tao , Chiang Mai

This temples is located in Chang phuok sub- direct,muang distric,Chiangmai province in an area just to the north and outside of the city of Chiangmai.

The temple is called ku tao because of its characteristic water melon (which is tao in the northern dialect) shaped chedi. This temple is also known as wearuwanaram vihan. Which suggests that the vihan is located in a forest of bamboo.

The name o this temple was mentioned in a document written curing the reign of king phaya yod chiangrai. In 1492. the cocument states that: “after the prince suriyawong, the son of phraya wh ruled the area to the south of the city of chiangmai. Had been ordinated. He was invited to stay in wat wearuwan ku yao. Chiangmai.

At the present there is a chedi situated on a square base surmounted by a circular five-tiered relic chamber. On each of the four sides of the relic chamber there is a niche used to house a burmese buddha image on top of this is a small round bell shaped feature with a spire

The chedi has been decorated using small pieces of glass. This is particularly evident on the columns of the niches which are decorated with a western style circular pattern.

This influenced diffused into the lanna area from the burmes workporce of the british timber exporters.

This chedi has been dated to the early 16 TH century A”D” and may have beenrestored once during the reign of king rama v.

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