The Wat Phra That Chedi Luang is situated in the small ancient historical town of Chiang Saen, a former principality of the kingdom of Lanna. It is located next door to the Chiang Rai provincial branch of the National Museum.
The origins of Wat Phra That Chedi Luang are not entirely clear, though most experts agree it was likely as not built sometime between the 12th and 14th centuries – with a common belief that King Saen Phu may have had it constructed around 1331, as the town\’s principal monastery. This theory makes sense bearing in mind the mixture of classic Lanna and Chiang Saen styles that the wat still reflects.
Like many other wats from this particular period, Wat Phra That Chedi Luang has unfortunately over the centuries fallen into a sad state of disrepair – with most of the ruins are now covered in mold and long grass. Nevertheless, it still boasts a fine brick built octagonal shape base chedi, which at nearly 60 m tall was once the highest religious structure in the Lanna kingdom.
The wat\’s wihan building is also in quite a bad state and is currently being protected by a rather inappropriate and presumably only stopgap corrugated iron roof!