Rating: 3.2/5 (6 votes)

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 06:00 – 18:00

 

Wat Chi Pa Sitaram is a temple located along Narai Maharaj Road in Tha Le Chup Son Subdistrict, Mueang Lopburi District, Lopburi Province. This temple is an old temple in the Lopburi urban area and has long been closely connected to the way of life of the surrounding community. Although there is no clear evidence indicating when the temple was built, the architectural forms still visible within the temple grounds, especially the bell-shaped chedi displaying Ayutthaya-period artistic characteristics, suggest that the temple may date back to the Ayutthaya period, or at least that the chedi was restored or constructed during that era.

 

Lopburi Province is a historic city with a long and important past dating back to ancient times. During the Lavo period, Lopburi was an important city with contact with outside civilizations. Later, in the Ayutthaya period, Lopburi developed greatly, especially during the reign of King Narai the Great, who ordered the construction of Narai Ratchaniwet Palace and used Lopburi as a second capital. Many historical sites in the province therefore reflect the prosperity of that era. Since Wat Chi Pa Sitaram is located in an area with such a long history, it is possible that this temple served as a community temple since the Ayutthaya period, or at least during the later part of that era.

 

The most notable feature of Wat Chi Pa Sitaram is the bell-shaped chedi located within the temple grounds. The chedi follows a form commonly found in Ayutthaya art, with a relatively high base supporting the bell-shaped body, which has rounded proportions. This design reflects Buddhist architectural concepts of the Ayutthaya period, when stupas or chedis were built as symbolic representations of the Buddha and were used to enshrine sacred relics or objects associated with Buddhism.

 

Although there are no detailed historical documents describing the construction of Wat Chi Pa Sitaram, the fact that the temple has preserved its historical remains until the present shows the role of the local community in continuously caring for and maintaining the temple grounds. Many temples in Thailand have histories passed down through local memory rather than through written records. Wat Chi Pa Sitaram is therefore an example of a community temple that reflects the relationship between religion, history, and the daily lives of local people.

 

Beyond its religious role, Wat Chi Pa Sitaram is also interesting for its local wisdom. Within the temple, activities related to health care through traditional Thai medicine are organized by a community herbal group. The main activities include herbal steam therapy and traditional Thai massage, both of which are forms of wisdom that have been passed down in Thai society for a long time. The use of herbs for healing is a body of knowledge rooted in the use of local plants combined with traditional Thai medical concepts.

 

Herbal steam therapy is a method of physical treatment that uses the heat of herbal steam to stimulate blood circulation, relax muscles, and help the body eliminate waste through perspiration. The herbs commonly used include various plants such as plai, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, turmeric, and other aromatic herbs with medicinal properties. Herbal steam therapy therefore not only supports physical health but also reflects the traditional wisdom of using natural resources in Thai communities.

 

Traditional Thai massage is another discipline of great importance in Thai culture. Massage is not merely a way to relax the body; it is also based on the concept of energy lines in the body, known in traditional Thai medicine as the “ten energy lines.” Pressing, kneading, and stretching muscles at different points of the body aim to restore balance and reduce aches and pains. By allowing the community herbal group to use the temple as a venue for these activities, Wat Chi Pa Sitaram also serves as a center for community health care.

 

The atmosphere inside Wat Chi Pa Sitaram is generally calm, simple, and reflective of a community temple in Lopburi city. The temple grounds have trees providing shade, along with religious buildings and community activity spaces spread throughout the area. People who visit the temple often come to pay respect to Buddha images, make merit, or participate in activities held within the temple, especially those related to health and herbal traditions.

 

In Thai society, temples do not serve only as places for religious ceremonies. They are also social spaces that connect people together. Wat Chi Pa Sitaram is no exception. In addition to being a place for religious activities, it is also a venue where the community organizes events related to culture, education, and health care. The activities of the herbal group held within the temple reflect the temple’s role as a community center.

 

Getting There Reaching Wat Chi Pa Sitaram is quite convenient because the temple is located along Narai Maharaj Road, an important road in Lopburi city. Those traveling by car can drive through Lopburi city toward Tha Le Chup Son Subdistrict. Once on Narai Maharaj Road, the entrance to the temple can be seen easily. In addition, if traveling from Bangkok, visitors can use Highway 1 or Phahonyothin Road toward Lopburi Province, then enter the urban area and follow the main city roads to Tha Le Chup Son.

 

Those traveling by train can get off at Lopburi Railway Station, which is not far from the city center. From there, visitors can continue to the temple by taxi, songthaew, or local transport. Travelers coming from Bangkok by bus or van can likewise continue from Lopburi city to Tha Le Chup Son Subdistrict using local transportation.

 

Today, Wat Chi Pa Sitaram continues to serve as a community temple with an important role for local people in terms of religion, culture, and local wisdom. The presence of an Ayutthaya-style chedi gives the temple historical value, while herbal steam therapy and traditional Thai massage activities make the temple a center of community health care.

 

For those interested in learning about temples in Lopburi city, Wat Chi Pa Sitaram is another place that clearly reflects the character of a community temple in this historic city. A visit to the temple is not only an act of paying respect to a sacred place, but also an opportunity to learn about local wisdom and the way of life of the community that continues to exist in Lopburi today.

 

 

A: Wat Chi Pa Sitaram is located along Narai Maharaj Road in Tha Le Chup Son Subdistrict, Mueang Lopburi District, Lopburi Province.

 

A: The temple contains an Ayutthaya-style bell-shaped chedi and also serves as a center for community herbal activities such as herbal steam therapy and traditional massage.

 

A: There is no clear evidence indicating exactly when the temple was built, but it contains a chedi with Ayutthaya-style artistic characteristics.

 

A: The temple is open daily from 06:00 – 18:00.

 

A: The temple has a community herbal group that organizes herbal steam therapy and traditional Thai massage, which are important aspects of local health wisdom.