During Visakha Bucha, Northern Thais  they love to go to important temples to make a merrit. This can especially be seen in Chiang Mai, when local people will go to Pra That Doi Suthep Temple. There is a traditional activity to take merit here - hiking up to the top of a temple.

For 14 kms from the footsteps of Doi Suthep Mountain, the pilgrims who have faith will walk up to Pra Thad Doi Suthep Temple by foot. This tradition began in the King Kuena period (King No. 6 of Chiang Mai - about 600 hundred years ago). In the past, people had to walk pass three old temples, Wat Soda, Wat Sakitaka (lost), Wat Anaka (lost) until Wat Prathat Doi Suthep. But nowadays, people will walk up an asphault road instead.

Why do they walk? To recall to the main points of Visakha Bucha, which is the Birth, the Enlightenment, and the Death of Lord Buddha and also understand that we worship by Dhamma practice (walking). This is the highest worship that a Buddhist can do for their Lord Buddha.