Chiang Rai's Jade Stupa Glows Green Once a Year
Moss and ferns coat a historic pagoda at Wat Tham Pla in Chiang Rai bright emerald green once yearly during the rainy season, creating a spectacular jade stupa that vanishes when the rains end.
Wat Tham Pla in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, experiences a remarkable annual transformation during the rainy season and Buddhist Lent, when moss and ferns entirely coat the historic pagoda in emerald green. This natural phenomenon occurs only during this brief seasonal window—once the rains end, the moss dries and the stupa returns to its original appearance, making it a true once-a-year spectacle that visitors cannot miss. The jade-colored tower, framed by the sound of rain and surrounded by lush greenery, has become a premier destination for photographers and nature enthusiasts, drawing visitors nationwide who are eager to experience this intersection of natural beauty and spiritual heritage before the opportunity vanishes until the following year.
