Thailand: Female figure in the grounds of Wat Lok Moli, Chiang Mai, northern Thailand

Wat Lok Moli or 'topknot of the world' is thought to have been founded by King Ku Na, the 6th king of the Mangrai Dynasty (1263-1578), who ruled the Lan Na Kingdom from Chiang Mai between about 1367 and 1388. It was probably a royal temple, since the northern side of the city was a royal precinct at the time; certainly the sanctuary enjoyed a long and close association with the Mangrai rulers. According to a notice at the south entrance of the temple, King Ku Na invited a group of ten monks from Burma to come and live in Chiang Mai, providing Lok Moli as a residence for them.