Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple), Chiang Mai (must see)

Wat Sri Suphan is known as the Silver Temple due to its ornate silver decoration. This temple was built around 1500 as a place of worship for the local silversmith village. As repairs were needed, the locals repaired the temple with silver. However, the temple wasn't completely covered in silver until 2008. The traditional Lanna architecture and design have now been completely covered in silver, nickel, and aluminum by the local silver artists.

You'll be astounded by the detailed relief plates covering the exterior. Relief plates depict rural life, cities of the world, the seven wonders of the ancient world, and zodiac animals.

While the relief plates are made with aluminum, the Buddha images are covered in silver.

The temple's interior is vibrant, with silver, mirrors, and bright colors adorning the walls and ceiling. Because this is an active ordination hall, women are not permitted inside the temple. According to Lanna tradition, the spells and amulets buried beneath the hall could cause "deterioration" to people with pure spirits, especially women.

There's an exhibition building with detailed information about the silversmith process. You can see artists working in the workshop, creating relief plates.

Monks give talks several times a day, which is an excellent way to gain further insight into the local traditions and religion. At night, the temple is illuminated with blue lights, creating another stunning scene.