Wat Bupparam

Wat Buppharam or Wat Meng, also known as Wat Uppa, is located at 143 Thapae Road Chang Khlan Subdistrict, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai, opposite to Wat Saen Fang. It is a Maha Nikaya temple with its land area of 4 rai 3 ngan 29 square wa, or around 7000 square metres.

King Mueang Kaeo, the twelfth king of the Mangrai Dynasty of Lanna had it built in 1496. In 1819, it was renovated by King Thammalangka. He had a small Lanna-style wooden Wihan built. Its finely-carved wooden tympanum has stucco work decorated with stained glass. Later, a larger Wihan was built with its Burmese-style carved wooden tympanum. The larger Wihan is where an approximately 400-year-old copper Buddha image with the weight of 1 kot is hosted with a pair of Chiang Saen-style bronze Buddha images on both of its sides. 

Wat Buppharam is an important temple because it is where Somdet Phra Sangharaja Pussadeva, the ninth Supreme Patriarch of Thailand used to stay. Also, it is where the Buddha’s relics are hosted. The ceremony of watering the relics is held annually on the full moon day of Lanna’s sixth lunar month, Central Thai’s fourth lunar month or around February. The temple’s major structures include the small Wihan, the larger Wihan, Phra Ubosot or the main hall, the Lanna-style stupa, the sacred well, Ho Montian Tham, Wihan Phra Chao Thanchai and Wihan Kruba Srivichai.