Visiting the Twin Pagodas of Doi Inthanon

last week

So after taking a quick break from my Chiang Mai stories to share how I spent my weekend visiting Clarke Quay, I’m now back again with another travel experience from Thailand. This time, I want to share our visit to one of the most beautiful spots in Doi Inthanon, the Twin Pagodas.

Right after we reached the summit of Doi Inthanon, our driver told us that we could already proceed to the Twin Pagodas. It was only around 5 kilometers away from the summit, so it made sense to visit it next. Since we were already at the highest point of Thailand, this was the best nearby stop to continue the journey.

The travel time was actually very quick because we were already descending from the summit. But the only challenge was the road. It was winding, and because the descent felt quite fast, some of us started to feel dizzy because of motion sickness. LOL. Luckily, I didn’t feel dizzy at all. Maybe I was too excited to notice the turns of the road.

There is something about Thailand, especially Doi Inthanon, that made me feel so excited to visit places, take photos, and record memories. It has this magical charm that is hard to explain. The mountains, the cold weather, the fresh air, and the beautiful landscapes all made the trip feel so special. Honestly, if we had the chance to stay longer, I would definitely take that option.

As soon as we arrived at the ticketing booth for the Twin Pagodas, our driver told us to buy the tickets quickly because the next shuttle service was leaving soon. I call it a shuttle service, but it was actually a pickup truck fitted with an enclosure and seating benches at the back. It was simple, but it was fun to ride. It gave the place a bit more adventure, especially because the ride from the ticketing booth to the entrance only took a few minutes.

Once we arrived at the entrance area of the Twin Pagodas, it felt like we were transported to a completely different place.

It was amazing. The landscape was so well-kept, the gardens were beautifully arranged, and the whole place felt peaceful, luxurious, and natural at the same time.

The welcoming fountain already made me excited. With the bright blue sky above us and the sunlight reflecting on the water, it immediately felt like a grand entrance. Then, as I looked toward the hills, I saw the pagodas standing on opposite sides. They were so captivating. The design, the colors, and the way they were surrounded by flowers and greenery made everything look like a scene from a postcard.

We decided to climb our way up to the pagoda on the right side first. However, because there was an important event happening that day, we were not allowed to reach that pagoda itself. Instead, we were directed to visit the other pagoda. It was a little unexpected, but it didn’t really ruin the experience because the place was still so beautiful from every angle.

One thing I found interesting was that the way up had both stairs and escalator options. LOL. I think that was very thoughtful because not everyone can easily climb long staircases, especially elderly visitors or those who may have difficulty walking. Having that option made the place feel more accessible.

When we finally reached the top, we couldn’t stop exploring the surroundings. The view was stunning. From there, we could see the other pagoda, the long stairways, the green mountains, and the whole garden below. It was one of those places where every corner deserved a photo.

We also entered the pagoda, and it was such a calming experience. The interior was quiet and beautiful, with a peaceful atmosphere that made us slow down for a while. We also learned a lot by reading about the history of the place, which made the visit more meaningful.

Overall, visiting the Twin Pagodas of Doi Inthanon was one of the highlights of our Chiang Mai trip. It had nature, architecture, history, and that peaceful mountain atmosphere that I really enjoyed.