Chang Peuak (White Elephant) Gate 2015

Chang Peuak (White Elephant) Gate 2015

Chang Peuak Gate 2015

Chang Peuak (also, inexplicably spelled "Chang Phuak" meaning Chang = Elephant, Peuak = Northern Thai for White, Thai: ช้างเผือก) Gate is the Northern gate of Chiang Mai's city moat. It was the main gateway to the city from the North and a very important gate over the centuries. It is believed that the city spirit enters and leaves the city through this gate. The gate was decorated with a fountain in the 20th century. This fountain was then stolen by a local official who put it in his garden.

In the early 2000s the fountain was rebuilt by then-mayor, only to be torn down again after it was considered bad luck to block the path of the city's guardian spirit with a fountain that also contained scary dragon images.

After the 2014 coup troops were stationed here as this used to be a major protest venue, besides the more built-up Tapae gate. In April 2015 the troops were finally pulled to make way for Songkran celebrations. The gate area is now nondescript and without any decoration.