Wat Chiang Man is Chiang Mai's oldest temple, linked to the city's foundation and associated with King Mangrai. Its elephant-supported chedi and unusual Buddha images give the compound more to read than a quick old-city photo stop.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand's temple record says Mangrai stayed at this site while Chiang Mai was being built and ordered a temple here after the city was established. That makes Wat Chiang Man a foundation-era site, not simply an old temple inside the later city walls.
The same record describes Chedi Chang Lom, whose base is supported by elephant figures, and identifies the white crystal Buddha known as Phra Kaeo Khao or Phra Setangkamani as an important image kept in the temple. Check current temple notices for access and opening arrangements.