Wat Phra That Khao Noi

Wat Phra That Khao Noi sits on a low hill immediately west of Nan and dates in origin to around 1487, though the chedi was restored under Burmese influence in the early twentieth century and the standing figure that dominates the terrace is recent - Phra Phuttha Maha Udom Mongkhon Nanthaburi Si Nan, a walking Buddha of about nine metres in gold, added in 1999 to mark Rama IX's birthday. It faces east over the town with the hand raised, and the terrace below it is where people come for the view: Nan laid out along its river, the valley floor of rice fields, and the ranges beyond, best in the late afternoon and at sunset. A stairway of around three hundred steps climbs from the base, or a road runs to a car park near the top. It is free, quiet outside sunset, and a five-minute drive from central Nan.

What you actually see

• The walking Buddha - about nine metres in gold, added in 1999.
• The terrace view - Nan, the river and the valley from the hilltop.
• The chedi - the 1487 foundation, restored in Burmese style.
• The stairway - around three hundred steps, with a road alternative.

When to go

November to February; late afternoon and sunset for the view, which is when the terrace fills. Mornings are empty. An hour covers it.

Honest expectations

The stairway is unshaded; most people drive up. Crowded at sunset, empty otherwise. The Buddha figure is modern, from 1999. Free with donation boxes.

Nearby

Nan town and Wat Phumin are below; Wat Phra That Chae Haeng is across the river.