Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao Suchadaram

1. The Legend of the Real "Emerald Buddha" Enshrined This temple holds significant historical significance as it was the site of the current "Phra Phuttha Maha Mani Rattana Patimakorn" (Emerald Buddha) for 32 years before being moved to other locations in the North. It is also the origin of "Phra Kaew Don Tao," another important Buddha image in Lampang Province. 2. The Origin of the Names "Don Tao" and "Suchada Ram" Don Tao: comes from the legend of Nang Suchada, a female lay devotee who discovered an emerald in a watermelon (in Northern dialect, watermelon is called "bak tao") and presented it to a senior monk to carve into a Buddha image. This led to the temple's original name, "Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao." Suchada Ram: comes from the location of the temple, which was originally Nang Suchada's house and a nearby temple. Later, the Department of Religious Affairs announced the merger of the two temples into one, thus the current name "Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao Suchadaram." 3. Phra Borommathat Don Tao The large, gleaming golden chedi enshrining the Buddha's hair relics is the center of faith at the temple, and its elegant architecture is a testament to its beauty.