Known as the Temple of the Big Stupa, Wat Chedi Luang is the ruins of an ancient temple situated in the center of Chaing Mai. Before the temple was in its current state it used to be the home of the Emerald Buddha, the holiest religious object in all of Thailand. An earthquake in 1545 damaged large amounts of the temple and when the Burmese captured Chiang Mai five years later the temple was left to fall into ruin. The temple is still an active worship place so you will still see monks going about their daily work as well as several Buddha shrines.