According to our tour guide, the founding of the temple was based on a legend. The story started when a glowing Buddha relic has magically reproduced just before it was about to be enshrined at Wat Suan Dok. The new relic was placed at the back of a sacred white elephant. This elephant was left roaming until and climbed to the top of Suthep Mountain. After trumpeting three times, it turned around three times, knelt down and died. The people took it as a sign that this is where the relic should be placed. King Ku Na built the original of the chedi on Doi Suthep at the end of 14th century.