A family friendly temple off the beaten path in Chiang Mai
The purveyors at Wat Baan Tha Mai (wat-ban-ta-my) know that once you’ve seen a few temples, you’ve seen them all attitude, and have built a family friendly addition to challenge that notion. Both the ‘old’ temple and the new part are worth a visit.
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A temple that’s fun for kids to explore!
This very new addition to the lovely temple Wat Baan Tha Mai is absolutely beautiful! Three new worshiping temples have been built atop a hill, beside a rice paddy and a man-made pond. You can tell it’s designed to get visitors to stay a while with lots of designated places to relax and plenty of opportunities for those family selfies. The original temple is also lovely as its set in a garden-like setting. There’s no doubt both you and the kids will love running along the raised bamboo walkways and posing with colourful parasols.
Pose like a Lanna princess
There’s plenty of opportunity along the bamboo paths and inside the original temple to walk and pose with a parasol and imagine you are living within the time of the great Lanna kingdom.
Relax by the water
Take a moment to de-stress or take photos at the many relaxing spots throughout the temple. Try a Thai pillow bed, or find some shade in a bamboo hut while overlooking a rice field paddy. Even though you’re only about 20 minutes from the city, your family will feel they are within a different realm.
Donate to the temple
It is common practice to donate a small amount to each temple you visit. This temple just happens to make it a little bit more fun! With black donation pots hidden around the original temple, kids will enjoy dropping coins in. Just be sure to have lots of one bahts on hand. Our favourite spot is by the toilets (voted the best public toilets in Thailand by the way, and they are quite nice). Standing on the bridge, overlooking the pond, are pots seemingly floating in the water. The kids will spend, er donate, lots of baht trying to get it in the pot!
Even the little statues are child-friendly and you’ll enjoy spotting different things hidden within the flower beds. One section of the original temple has fish tanks with huge fish, and another has a very creative way to get you to donate money – a dart board! Donate a few baht and you can play to find out your fortune. The number you hit on will apparently determine your future.
Hours: Open daily from 8 am – 6 pm (approx. hours)
Pet friendly: No
Accessibility: Stroller and wheelchair (although some help required)
Price: FREE
Location: Google Maps
Things to consider
Please make sure to dress appropriately. Temple etiquette is taken very seriously for adults and older children, although young children can typically get away with regular clothing.
The temple makes for a nice morning or part of an afternoon out, but no more than that. You should definitely consider visiting the nearby Ginger Farm for lunch or dinner after your visit to temple Wat Baan Tha Mai.
