Doi Chang Mup Stupa
(สถูปดอยช้างมูบ เชียงราย)
Chiang Rai
Doi Chang Mup Stupa
Apart from the famous Mae Fah Luang botanic garden-- a spectacular azalea garden-- on Doi Chang Mup, there is also an exquisite viewpoint nearby for the tourists to admire and take photos. It is Doi Chang Mup Stupa.
History of the stupa: In the past, the forest area in Doi Chang Mup, Doi Tung's highest mountain, was bare and damaged. It was used for opium cultivation and shifting cultivation. After Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Boromarajajonanihad’s visit, she intended to rehabilitate the forest and make it abundant again. She founded Doi Tung Development Project to improve the area into botanic garden, which is very well-known and successful at present. The tourists usually visit this place during winter. However, Doi Chang Mup Stupa is much more ancient. It was built approximately 100 years ago. As for the history of the name "Doi Chang Mup," there is an antique situated on the entrance knoll at Mae Fah Luang botanic garden. The stupa is small-sized, only 3 meters high. It is placed on a large stone,which looks like a big elephant crouches, with large peepal trees nearby. This stupa is what was left through time. Singhon and Yonok Nagapan legend have it that, in the reign of Phra Chao Chat Rai, Kamrapati Saro Angel grew an auspicious fig tree at Doi Chang Mup. A full-grown 7-cubit-tall fig tree putting out 4 twigs can provide shade enough for 20 people. It is believed that, like the pink shadow tree, if one supports the twig of water fig tree with wood, he will get his wishes fulfilled. The fulfilled wishes vary from the direction-- east means having children, north means money, west means success, and south means long life.