We spent an amazing New Year’s Eve in Chiang Mai. We had the choice of being with lots of people at the main square near Thapae Gate or to join a smaller group of people and monks at the Buddhist Temple Wat Phan Tao, and spend the last hour of 2012 year meditating and chanting. We chose the latter option.
It is a wonderful experience to be part of such an event. During the first 30 minutes everybody together with the buddhist monks knelt on the ground, chanting and meditating. The place was fully candle-lit, which made the atmosphere feel even more magical. After half an hour of merging with the nature and ourselves, the main monk made a speech and congratulated everybody with the New Year and shared a few words about Buddhism and its principles, about the meaning of the New Year for Buddhist people. The sky was full of fireworks and lit lanterns. The monks started to release lanterns as well. We joined their company and really had fun! On the way back home we felt very happy and enlightened!
How and where do you usually spend New Year’s Eve? Share your experience with us!
Hey Alyona great post. What a great experience to be a part of. I need to do this next year.
Thanks Stephen! Yes, you should definately do it! You i will love it! 🙂
Hi!! Can you tell me if you have to book this with the monks or just show up?
Hi Mayte, you don’t need to book anything. Just go there and enjoy it 🙂
Found this place while in Chiang Mai for the New Years 2015. It was a great way to “ring” in the new year. The photos above where people are sitting on the dirt is now covered with bamboo tarps spread out by the Monks along with umbrellas and candles. Thanks for the tip!
Thanks for the comment! Yeah, we’ve been here again this year, and the place looked even more beautiful and organised, and there were many more people than 2 years ago 🙂
This is absolutely beautiful , and exactly what I was looking to do for this years new year , is there a place near by I can stay at? Hotel or hostel ?
Thanks! Yes, there are definitely hostels or some hotel around. You can check in Google Maps the location of Wat Phan Tao and see where you can find an accommodation around this temple. Good luck!
What time do you need to arrive to the temple by? Are the lanterns released at midnight? I am highly considering this end of this year.
Some websites have different info
Hello Kaushika, we’ve noticed that every year there are more and more people for this event. Last time we came here at around 23:30 and there was almost no place. But people come and go, so we found a few spots in a few minutes. I am not sure at what time the Monks start chanting, probably at around 11pm or maybe a bit later. People release lanterns right at midnight, or maybe at 0:05 🙂
Thanks for the post! We really enjoyed New Year’s Eve at Wat Phan Tao this year and wouldn’t have known about it if it wasn’t for your blog!
Best,
Rachel