Wat Ram Poeng (Tapotaram)

Had an amazing experience here, the Vipassana retreat course is really helpful, you can definitely learn a lot from it.

Wat Ram Poeng is a beautiful and peaceful temple in Chiang Mai, perfect for anyone looking to meditate or even get temporarily ordained. Surrounded by nature, it has a really calm vibe that makes it easy to relax and focus. The temple is known for its meditation retreats, and they welcome both locals and foreigners. It’s a great spot to slow down, clear your mind, and connect with yourself.

My favourite temple to visit and meditate in Chiang Mai. I love the fact that I can just park my scooter, walk in and practice my meditation. Just like with physical workout, I like to go somewhere to practice my meditation. The group atmosphere really helps. People there are silently practicing and you feel carried by them all. So when I am in Chiang Mai I visit daily for a few hours.

Beautiful place for 25 day vipassana retreat. The full moon evening ceremony is wonderful to attend too. Wear white clothes.

This place is close to my heart as it was the first vipassana retreat I attended, back in 2009. Went back again recently and everything’s still pretty much the same. However, disappointingly, the abbot giving out an autographed picture of himself at the end left a bad taste in my mouth. For one, this is a sharvakayana / Theravada practice where there isn’t even Guru yoga like in Vajrayana. Perhaps he was inspired by images of Tibetan Lamas but in that tradition, there is the METHOD of guru yoga (which is its own practice, which warrants remembering guru, unlike Theravada practice). Even then, I have never been given an image by a Tibetan lama because they only give it to their students. As well, it was disappointing that this time around, the abbot did not acknowledge the lineage, where these methods came from and who taught him like what the previous abbot did. If you want to give out pictures, give out pictures of Shakyamuni Buddha since most people are new. Just my 2 cents.

Wat Ram Poeng is famous for its mediation practise and retreats.You can enquire about the live in meditation program and any cost at the foreigner office or email with the address l posted.Very peaceful place with beautiful treed area. The buildings are very well maintained and the architecture is stunning. There is also a resident Pikanee who is also available to take meditation.

I participated in vipassana mediation program for 7 days. It definitely left a significant mark in my life and made me a better person. The teachers, environment, architecture, food, accommodation, peers are all amazing. It feels like home. I’ve found much more clarity and peace.

Appears to be a meditation retreat temple. I tried to ask about studies there, but no one was really helpful.