History
According to the legend of Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong Worawihan, the location of the temple is on a small hill which looks similar to a termite hill (Chom Pluak in Thai). The hill is covered by Thong Kwao or Bastard teak (Butea monosperma) and Thong Lang or Coral trees (Erythrina variegata) forest. Thus the people called the hill Chom Thong.
After Lord Buddha entered parinirvana, King Asoka the Great visited the hill to place Buddha's relics there. The temple was built on the hill and named Wat Phra That Chom Thong in 1451. Later the temple was upgraded to be Royal temple and at the same time renamed to Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong Worawihan.
The government created a district in the area in 1900 and named the new district Chom Thong following the legend. The district office was originally located in Ban Tha Sala, Tambon Khuang Pao. In 1933 the office was moved to the southwest of Wat Phra That Chom Thong.
Read more about this topic: Chom Thong District, Chiang Mai Province
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