important temple. The 14th century temple is located on a small hill East of town across the Nan river, from where good views of the town of Nan and the surrounding valley and river can be had.
The temple derives its name from the Phra That Chae Haeng, the gilded chedi that contains a relic of the Buddha.
The Wat Phra That Chae Haeng was founded in 1355. The structures of the temple complex show a mix of several architectural styles, including Lanna and Thai Lü.
Wat Phra That Chae Haeng (built 1354-58 onward)
Wat Phra That Chae Haeng stands on a low hill to the southeast of Nan, beyond the Nan river. It was founded in 1354-8 by Chao Phraya Kan Muang--the dominant power in the Nan valley—while the kingdom's capital lay at Pua. A few years later, when the capital of the kingdom was transferred to Nan, the wat was moved to a new location, only to be moved again in 1368 to its present location by the ruler Chao Pha Kong.
The most interesting feature of Wat Phra That Chae Haeng is its mondop, which lies inside the inner enclosure that also houses the chedi (rebuilt in 1454) and the viharn. The roof of the mondop is quite similar to the that of the viharn-ubosot at Wat Phumin in central Nan, though of a more rustic style.