Antiquity of the temple
The Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu is the oldest landmark in Mae Hong Son province. It was earlier called the "Wat Plai Doi", and it features two Burmese-style chedi, or pagodas. The larger pagoda was built in 1860, and contains the ashes of Phra Moggalana, one of the disciples of the Buddha. Theses ashes were carried all the way from Burma by two of his disciples. The smaller pagoda was constructed in 1874 by the first governor of Mae Hong Son, Phaya Singhanat Racha, and contains his ashes.