The Wat Suan Dok temple was built during the second half of the 14th century to house a sacred Buddha relic. A monk named Sumana Thera from Sukhothai discovered a relic which was believed to be the shoulder bone of the Buddha. King Kuene who ruled the Lanna Kingdom during much of the second half of the 14th century invited the monk to Chiang Mai. The King had the Wat Suan Dok temple built to enshrine the Buddha relic.