Khru Ba Srivichai (Khru Ba Sriwichai) was born on June 11th, 1878, at the small village of Ban Pang, about 100km south of Chiang Mai. He became the most revered Lanna Buddhist monk of the 20th century, responsible for the restoration of over 100 temples during his lifetime. He is perhaps most famous for the construction of the road leading up to Chiang Mai's iconic Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, a Budhist temple overlooking the city. Chiang Mai, sometimes written as 'Chiengmai' or 'Chiangmai', is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand, and is the capital of Chiang Mai Province. It is located 700 km (435 mi) north of Bangkok, among the highest mountains in the country. The city is on the Ping river, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya river.