Wat Lok Moli or 鈥榯opknot of the world' is thought to have been founded by King Ku Na; the 6th king of the Mangrai Dynasty (1263-1578); who ruled the Lan Na Kingdom from Chiang Mai between about 1367 and 1388. It was probably a royal temple; since the northern side of the city was a royal precinct at the time; certainly the sanctuary enjoyed a long and close association with the Mangrai rulers. According to a notice at the south entrance of the temple; King Ku Na invited a group of ten monks from Burma to come and live in Chiang Mai; providing Lok Moli as a residence for them.

The huge chedi that distinguishes Lok Moli was built in 1527; perhaps after the orders of the 11th Mangrai monarch; King Muang Kaeo (1495-1526); but apparently during the first year of the first reign of his younger brother; King Ket Chettharat (1526-1538).