Wiang Kum Kam is 3 kms south of Chiang Mai city centre. You could drive straight past it on the way to the airport not realising that it was there (as I did many times). It was the centre of the new Mon capital of Chiang Mai when it was built in the 13th century, but later abandoned in the 16th century when the Burmese invaded. Flooding may have contributed to its decline, the Ping River can burst its banks and inundate the site - as happened three times in 2005.

Above and below: Wat Chedi Liam is a square shaped pagoda in Mon style, modelled on the one in Lamphun (see separate page). Chedi Liam is still a working wat, with monks resident on site.