It took over 84 years to build the Temple of the Big Stupa which is the English translation for Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Mai. When the chedi was finished in 1475, it had the honor of housing the Emerald Buddha before this holy image named Phra Kaew was moved in 1551 to Luang Prabang in Laos. It is now at the Grand Palace in Bangkok. Still guarding the southern staircase is a row of elephant sculptures and a seven-headed nāga statue.
