Wat Pha Lat

Wat Pha Lat (วัดผาลาด; lit. 'the monastery at the sloping rock'), also known as Wat Skathadami, is a Buddhist temple located on the slopes of Doi Suthep, above Chiang Mai. Founded by King Kuena of Lanna in the 14th century, Wat Pha Lat served originally as a resting place for pilgrims making the journey up to the Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.

Wat Pha Lat
วัดผาลาด
Religion
Affiliation	Buddhism
District	Suthep
Province	Chiang Mai Province
Region	Northern Thailand
Status	Active
Location
Municipality	Chiang Mai
Country	Thailand
Architecture
Founder	King Kuena of Lanna
Completed	1355

History

The inner temple of Wat Pha Lat

Wat Pha Lat was established in 1355 under the reign of King Kuena of Lanna (1355–1385) to honor a sacred white elephant. The elephant is said to have stopped to rest at the temple's future location before continuing up Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, where it eventually passed away. In response, the king had temples built at both sites, with Wat Pha Lat becoming a hidden retreat and rest stop for monks.

The temple was restored in the early 20th century by Mong Panyo, a Burmese businessman and teak trader associated with the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation. A road was built in the mid-20th century, connecting Wat Pha Lat to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.

In 1962, Luang Por Sawat Sukkamo spent time practicing at Wat Pha Lat, but he eventually relocated to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, leaving the temple in quiet solitude once again. The temple remained largely unvisited until 1991, when a professor from the Ministry of Education initiated its revival, bringing new attention and care to the site.

On September 27, 2014, Chiang Mai experienced flooding that caused some damage to the temple.