Wat Ngam Muang is the most important temple in the history of the province of Chiang Rai and around northern Thailand. The name of the temple in the translation from the Thai language means "beautiful city".

The most important place in the territory of Wat Ngam Muang takes chedi (stupa) in which is stored the remains of King Mengrai. He was the founder of the city of Chiang Rai and around the Lanna Kingdom, located on the territory of today's northern provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun and others.

As the story goes, the remains of King Mengrai, who died in 1317 in Chiang Mai, was soon incorporated into the chedi his son.

Later, already around the temple it was built in 1670. During the tense relations with neighboring Burma, the most valuable in the province chedi it was looted, and to honor the memory of the King, in 1964, before the ruins of ancient chedi was a monument to King Mengrayu. He became a place of worship for many people in northern Thailand.

The temple is situated on a hill, are places on the hills are considered the most favorable for the Buddhist temples. Even the uninitiated will feel special inspiration and a burst of energy, regardless of the surroundings from a bird's flight.

The path to the temple, which consists of 74 steps, guarded by mythical snake - naked. They are the guards of all spiritual, but are never inside temples.

According to legend, in ancient times it could turn into naked people that Buddha forbade them. However, one serpent Naga tried to deceive him. The deception was discovered, and since then the doors of the temple were closed for the Nagas. At the dedication of a monk, and to this day he is given the traditional question: "Are you man? "According to legend, turned into a naked person can not lie and will be disclosed.