Wat Pha Lat | The Sloping Temple on the Monks Trail
The story goes that King Kuna of Lanna commissioned the temple. Built around 1355–1385.
This was a resting place for the white elephant carrying the Buddha relic up Doi Suthep in the 14th century. Later the same elephant is supposed to have died at the site where Wat Suthep was built. But first, it apparently took a break on the way, which was here at Wat Pha Lat. The temple is also called Wat Skathadami.
The temple has been used for meditation. The Pha Lat part derives from sloping. So the popular name has been the “sloping temple”.
In the early 20th century, a Burmese businessman from Moulmein funded the temple’s restoration.
The building you see in the photo is an old meditation and monastic retreat, part of the historic temple complex built in the 14th century as a resting place for monks on their way to Doi Suthep. It is not the main temple, but an annex building that served as a place for meditation, rest, and ritual rest.
How to log:
To log this virtual cache, make a photo of the old temple Wat Pha Lat with your Geocache ID name on a paper to show that you have been at this place or a photo of you at the location, but I cannot require your face to be visible !
If you want to visit Wat Pha Lat without hiking the Monk's Trail, take a songthaew (red taxi) up Doi Suthep. Ask the driver to stop at Wat Pha Lat along the way.
The walk from Chiang Mai to Wat Pha Lat, through dense rainforest, takes about 45–60 minutes and is 2.5km long.
Starting point : at coordinates N18° 47.867' E098° 56.533' (at the end of Suthep Road, near Chiang Mai Zoo and Chiang Mai University) (near Army Radio/TV Channel 7).
After Wat Pha Lat, you can continue on, to the famous Wat Phra That Doi Suthep at an altitude of 1.060 meters. This is another 1.5 to 2 hours of climbing. The total distance from the start, via Wat Pha Lat, to Doi Suthep is 7 km.
Best time to start: early morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat.
What to bring: Good walking shoes (the path can be muddy) and water and snacks (no stalls along the way). Avoid the rainy season (June–October): path may be slippery.
If the entire route to Doi Suthep is too strenuous for you, you can also hike just to Wat Pha Lat and then take a songthaew (red taxi) from the main road further up to Doi Suthep. This way, you can combine the tranquil jungle experience with the iconic view without the strenuous climb.
Alternatively, you can get dropped off at the temple itself and walk down.
Adventure Labcache Wat Pha Lat:
https://labs.geocaching.com/goto/35109f73-0d65-4f54-8fa1-ac5ec80645a4
Virtual Rewards 5.0 - 2026-2027
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between February 3, 2026 and February 3, 2027. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 5.0 on the Geocaching Blog.