An ancient capital of Thailand, many wars had fought in here and much blood had been spit. Perhaps that's why so many Buddhist temples here, to cleanse the rage and console the dead. Not to mention the extra benefits of attracting tourists.
Wat Rong Khun at Chiangrai is more interesting than Wat Pho in Bangkok, and is a must see. Its avant-garde mural and sculptures should be the model of all religions in the world.