Built during 1296 – 1297 a.d. by Phya Mungrai, Wat Chiang Mun was the first royal temple built in the vicinity to Chiang Mai’s ancient city, on the former Wiang Chiang Mun Palace donated by Phya Mungrai.

The temple instores several valuable hitorical artifacts, the most significant are the white quartz buddha image of “Phra Setangkamanee” or “Phra Kaew Khao” in Lanna style which Phya Mungrai brought from Hariphunchai and also a stone buddha statue in the fosture of sub during the Elephant “Nalakiri”, carved by craftsmen of the fala school.

Another priceless artifact is a stone inscription written in 1581 a.d. which records the histories of Wat Chiang Mun and the city of Chiang Mai. The 700 years old chedi “Chang Lom” or elephant surrounded stupa is the oldest and most significant stupa within the temple compounds.