On my bike trips, I often visit this beautiful wooden temple. And I believe this temple is so unique that I want to bring more people to have a look at it.
The Wat Inthrawat in the countryside of Chiang Mai province is one of the finest examples of classic Lanna style architecture in Northern Thailand. The complex consists of a viharn, an open pavilion and a large open mondop. The temple, locally also known as the Wat Ton Kwen or Wat Ton Khwen, is one of the very few remaining wooden temples in its original state in Chiang Mai province.
The temple is under the care of the Thai Fine Arts Department. Renovations have been carried out aiming to leave the original structures intact as much as possible. The wooden viharn of the Wat Inthrawat The simple and small, yet very elegant viharn was built in 1858 in Lanna style with Thai Lü influence. It is surrounded on three sides by an open pavilion. The stairs of the viharn contain large mythological Naga snakes on either side guarding the entrance of the structure.
The viharn has the typical Lanna style steep three-tiered roof with large stylized Naga serpents on the top of the roof ends. Beautifully carved wooden bargeboards decorate the ends of each roof tier. The facade of the building is made of richly decorated carved wooden panels. The gilded wood carvings, inlaid with coloured mosaics show Lanna style flower patterns. The columns on either side of the entrance also contain carved flower motifs. The main Buddha in subduing Mara posture is set on a pedestal with smaller images in front of it. The back wall of the viharn is decorated with gilded red lacquer. Most of the original murals have unfortunately been painted over, only a small part is still visible.
IMPORTANT! The temple is closed after 17.00 !!!!