- Kind
- Temple
- Tradition
- Theravada
- Founded
- 1370
- Town
- Chiang Mai
Photo by Ritthichai Siangdee (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)
Wat Suan Dok, also known as Wat Buppharam, lies on Suthep Road in Chiang Mai. King Kue Na of Lan Na founded it in 1370 for the monk Sumana Thera, in what had been the royal flower garden, which gives the temple its name. The Chiang Mai campus of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU), a Buddhist university for monks, is in the compound.
The campus runs a programme in English called Monk Chat and Meditation, where visitors can talk with monks about Buddhism and monastic life. It also runs short meditation retreats of one to four days, as well as a half-day course and a mindfulness course.
These short courses suit a first taste of retreat practice. The programme’s website does not describe the meditation method, so ask when you register. For a longer course in Chiang Mai, Wat Ram Poeng, Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong and the centre at Doi Suthep all teach foreigners over a week or more.
Visiting
Register for a retreat through the form on the Monk Chat website. Courses last one to four days.
Related places
5
Nearby
within 150 km, straight line
Read more
Sources and verification
2
Written from published sources by the volunteer editors. Not yet reviewed by an outside advisor.
- OrganisationMonk Chat and Meditation, MCU Chiang Mai Campus: home page (courses of 1 to 4 days, English, registration; items dated to October 2026)
- ReferenceWikipedia: Wat Suan Dok (founding 1370 under King Kue Na for the monk Sumana, MCU Chiang Mai campus in the compound, coordinates)
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