🌳 **【Wat Umong Hiking Guide in Chiang Mai: Secret Words of Awakening at the End of the Tunnel】** 📜

#2月好去地方2025 Wumeng Temple is like a fragment of a scroll, with verses everywhere where bricks and tiles have peeled off. When you bend down and crawl out of the last tunnel, the sunlight suddenly falls on your shoulders - it turns out that the ritual of walking out of the darkness only requires an unexpected epiphany. 🕊️ ### **Background introduction** Wat Umong, which means "Tunnel Temple", was built in the 14th century. It is a rare underground Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai. According to legend, it was built by King Lanna for a monk to get rid of his doubts and allow him to meditate away from the hustle and bustle of the world. The intricate tunnels in the temple are like a maze, and the outside is surrounded by century-old trees. The desolateness reveals philosophy, and travelers call it "breathing ruins." --- ### **Hiking Guide** 1. **Route Features**: From the entrance, through the meditation lake → underground Buddhist caves → forest pagodas, the circular walk takes about 1 hour. 2. **Must-explore secret spots**: the broken wall engraved with Pali scriptures, the "Question-solving Tree" hung with wish locks, and the leaning pagoda hidden in the forest. 3. **In-depth experience**: Participate in monk debates on weekend afternoons, or follow the signs to walk quietly on the meditation trail. --- ### **Transportation Guide** - **Self-driving/Grab**: About 6 kilometers from the ancient city, 15 minutes by car, locate "Wat Umong Suan Phutthatham". - Songthaew: Take it from Thapae Gate towards Suthep Mountain. The one-way fare is about 80 THB per person. - **Bicycle**: Suitable for those with good physical strength. You will pass through farmland and small villages along the way, so you need to wear sunscreen and drink water. --- ### **Tips** ⚠️ There is no lighting in the tunnel, so it is recommended to bring your own flashlight or keep your phone charged. ⚠️ Avoid going there at noon as the tunnel is as hot as a steamer. The best time to go there is in the early morning or at dusk. 🍚 You can bring rice to feed the fish released into the temple, but do not feed them bread as it will damage the ecology. 📵 Please keep your voice down. Photography and noise are prohibited in the monks' retreat area. --- ### **Photography check-in spots** 1. **Tunnel entrance**: Shoot the silhouette against the light to highlight the mysterious feeling of the arch and vines intertwined. 2. **Solving the puzzle of tree hole**: Frame the pagoda through the tree hole to create a composition of "seeing the sky from the hole". 3. **Reflections in the Lake**: Stand by the lake after the rain and take photos of the reflections. The dead branches and pagodas together create an ink painting atmosphere. 📸 Increase the contrast to highlight the texture of moss and red bricks, and the black and white filter makes it look more vicissitudes. #Thailand #Chiang Mai