Rating: 3.8/5 (6 votes)

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08:00–17:00

 

Wat Noen Sawang is a community Buddhist temple located in Moo 6, Bang But Subdistrict, Ban Khai District, Rayong Province. The temple serves as a spiritual hub for locals, offering a serene, shaded atmosphere ideal for merit-making, worship, and meditation.

 

The temple grounds sit on a gentle rise with an open aspect. In the morning, sunlight reflects off the principal Buddha image, creating a luminous scene that inspired the name “Noen Sawang” (the bright hill).

 

Wat Noen Sawang was formally established on 14 February 1990 (B.E. 2533) by the faith and cooperation of residents in Bang But and nearby communities. On 23 June 2010 (B.E. 2553), the temple received the Wisungkhamsima (consecrated boundary for the ordination hall), underscoring the steady growth of Buddhism in Ban Khai.

 

The ordination hall houses a principal Buddha image in the Maravichaya posture, revered by devotees. A sermon hall hosts merit-making activities and youth Dhamma classes on observance days. Around the compound, bodhi and banyan trees and pocket gardens are carefully maintained, inviting calm from the first step inside.

 

A distinctive feature of the temple is its amulet “Phra Pidta Maha Mongkol,” crafted in a sacred powder and finished with bronze gilt. It is sought by devotees for protection and good fortune and is available for respectful acquisition at the temple.

 

The current abbot, Phra Khru Phiphat Chayaporn, leads community-focused initiatives, including youth Dhamma training, summer novice ordinations, and tree-planting as offerings, nurturing goodness and mindfulness among the younger generation.

 

Each year after the Buddhist Lent, the temple hosts a vibrant communal Kathina robe-offering ceremony. Villagers decorate the procession, prepare food for monks, and present folk performances—an occasion that warmly reunites the community.

 

Getting There From Ban Khai town, take the Ban Khai–Nong Bua Road and turn onto Road 3471. Follow signs for “Wat Noen Sawang” for about 4 km to Moo 6, Bang But. A large bodhi tree and a wooden pavilion mark the entrance. Private cars are most convenient; from Ban Khai Market, songthaews (shared pickups) plus a short motorcycle-taxi ride reach the temple in about 10–15 minutes.

 

For morning visits, 08:30–09:30 is recommended for soft light ideal for photos and quiet meditation under the trees. Small local stalls sometimes sell tea and Thai snacks, reflecting the close bond between the temple and the community.

 

Wat Noen Sawang is not only a place of worship but also a wellspring of peace and faith. If you are visiting Rayong, this temple is a gentle stop for paying respects and experiencing everyday Buddhist life, simply and beautifully.

 

 

A: Moo 6, Bang But Subdistrict, Ban Khai District, Rayong Province, about 6 km from Ban Khai town.

 

A: Daily from 08:00–17:00.

 

A: No. Visitors may make donations as they wish.

 

A: The ordination hall with the principal Buddha image, calm gardens, and the temple’s Phra Pidta Maha Mongkol amulet.

 

A: Phra Khru Phiphat Chayaporn.

 

A: Take a songthaew from Ban Khai Market and continue by motorcycle taxi for about 10–15 minutes to the temple.

 

A: Yes. The communal Kathina ceremony takes place every year after the Buddhist Lent.