Mural scene from the Buddhist Jataka tales, Wat Hang Dong, Chiang Mai, northern Thailand

Thailand: Mural scene from the Buddhist Jataka tales, Wat Hang Dong, Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. Wat Hang Dong is a typical example of traditional Lan Na temple architecture. The old viharn at this temple is a little more elaborate than its counterpart at nearby Wat Ton Kwen, but is essentially similar in shape, style and appearance. Also dark and intimate, with a low, sweeping, three-tiered roof, the viharn shelters a collection of Buddha images, at least two of which Ð to the right and left of the main Buddha image Ð are distinctively Lao in style and yet somehow strangely primitive. The old viharn at Wat Hang Dong has now been beautifully restored, and a new ubosot has also been added just a few metres to the northwest. This newer structure follows quite faithfully the traditional Lan Na design (the sum of some windows are perhaps over-elaborate and seem to show significant traces of Burmese influence), but overall the new ubosot at Wat Hang Dong both mirrors and complements the old viharn