This is the first Ngiew (Tai Yai) temple in Chiang Mai, established during the reign of King Intawichayanon in 1883, by Mom Bua Lai, a royal consort of Tai Yai descent, along with Tai Yai people who had migrated to Chiang Mai. The temple is named "Wat Pa Pao" because the area is abundant with a medicinal herb called "Pao." Inside Wat Pa Pao, there are many attractions worth seeing, such as a pagoda showcasing Tai Yai architectural style, a museum dedicated to the Ngiew people, and every April, the temple hosts the "Poy Sang Laong" festival or the ordination of boys in the Lanna tradition. There is also a school teaching the Tai Yai language for children in the vicinity. Originally, Wat Pa Pao was an old palace or residence of King Kuanathammikaraj, the ruler of Chiang Mai from the royal lineage of the Seven Monarchs during that time. After the king passed away, his body was brought into the city through the wall opposite Wat Phra Mane, the location of Wat Pa Pao today, to conduct the cremation ceremonies for King Kuan. Subsequently, this temple was abandoned due to the impacts of war, leading to its dilapidation, until it was restored during the reign of King Kawila, a former ruler of Chiang Mai.