Thailand: Gilded chedi at Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai

An important destination, for visitors and residents alike, is Doi Suthep. This forested hill - Doi is a northern Thai word for mountain - looms to the western side of the city, offering easy access to fresh air, forest walks, and a Hmong hill tribe village. Half-way up the mountain stands Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. After a drive of about twenty minutes from the city centre, the temple may be reached by a steep flight of steps flanked by naga-snake balustrades, or by a funicular railway. The magnificent gilded chedi, which dates from the 16th century, offers superb views across Chiang Mai Valley to the River Ping.