Wat Ou Sai Kham, Chiang Mai

The Wat Ou Sai Kham is on Chang Moi Kao Street near the Ta Pae Gate in Chiang Mai. The small temple is famous for its Jade Buddha statues and unique imagery.

The Wat Ou Sai Kham is more than 300 years old. The first temple that stood on the site was abandoned because the villagers were too poor to support a temple and monastery. It was rebuilt in 1841 AD on land donated by a lady from Chiang San in Chiang Rai province. She gave the name Ou Sai Kham or the Temple of the Golden Sands to the Wat.

The Wat Ou Sai Kham has a 170 year old Big Buddha statue from the Lanna era. The important statue is the jade Buddha that is a 109 centimeters high and weighs 900 kilograms. The figure has a Lanna style posture of the Buddha conquering the evil Mara. It is the largest Buddha statue made of Burmese jade in Thailand. There is a Phra Sang-Krachi statue and visitors and locals are encouraged to rub the belly of the figure for luck. The temple also has a simple Chedi or Stupa and a small assembly hall or Viharn. The interiors of the Viharn are covered with beautiful religious murals.