Over 600 years old, Wat Chedi Luang is the most somber of Chiang Mai's many temples. But don't let it get you down. Several times a day, the somber mood is broken by a flurry of young monks scurrying around, mixing youthful horseplay with their monkly chores.

The structure was severely damaged by an earthquake soon after it was build, and despite some recent reconstruction, still stands largely in the same condition it's been in for the past six centuries. This marks a pleasant change from the shiny gold paint of most Thai temples.

While you're here, don't miss out on "Monk Chat", an area beneath the trees where you can ask some of the older monks about anything that's on your mind — from historical queries about the temple, to general guidance on how to better live your life.