Rating: 4/5 (5 votes)

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08:00 – 17:00

 

Wat Lat Kham is located in Phanom Thuan Subdistrict, Phanom Thuan District, Kanchanaburi Province. It is an ancient temple with a long history and great significance to the local community. More than just a place for religious activities, the temple has long served as a spiritual and cultural center for Buddhists in the area and neighboring provinces.

 

What has brought Wat Lat Kham nationwide recognition is the enshrinement of a sacred Buddha image known as “Phra Phuttha Benchanawamongkhon Kanchan”, respectfully called “Luang Pho Saen Rian” (the Buddha of a Hundred Thousand Coins). This Buddha image is uniquely remarkable for being constructed from more than 900,000 real coins from various periods. Each coin was meticulously arranged to cover every square inch of the image, forming a large and visually striking Buddha image rich in symbolic meaning.

 

From a historical perspective, Wat Lat Kham contains archaeological evidence reflecting the antiquity of the area, including artifacts from the Dvaravati period as well as the ruins of a stupa believed to date back to the early Ayutthaya era. These remains indicate that Wat Lat Kham was once an important religious site in the past before being abandoned due to the impacts of warfare during the Ayutthaya period, remaining deserted for several centuries.

 

The revival of Wat Lat Kham began in 1999, when Phra Khru Palat Ploen Techadhammo passed through the area during his monk’s pilgrimage and discovered the abandoned temple ruins. With strong personal determination and the collective faith of local villagers, he initiated the restoration of the temple, eventually restoring Wat Lat Kham as a spiritual and religious center of Phanom Thuan District once again.

 

Phra Phuttha Benchanawamongkhon Kanchan has a lap width of 59 inches and a height of 87 inches. The creation of a Buddha image from coins is not merely an unusual artistic approach, but one imbued with deep symbolic significance. Coins represent wealth, abundance, and stability. By incorporating coins bearing symbols of Nation, Religion, and Monarchy into the Buddha image, the sculpture symbolizes the unification of Thailand’s core societal values within a single sacred form.

 

Getting There The most convenient way to reach Wat Lat Kham is by private car. From Kanchanaburi town, drive toward Phanom Thuan District along the main highway, then turn onto local roads following the directional signs to Wat Lat Kham. The total distance from the city is approximately 35 kilometers. The route is fully paved and accessible throughout the year.

 

 

A: Wat Lat Kham is located in Phanom Thuan Subdistrict, Phanom Thuan District, Kanchanaburi Province.

 

A: It is Phra Phuttha Benchanawamongkhon Kanchan, a Buddha image constructed from a large number of real coins.

 

A: The temple contains archaeological evidence dating back to the Dvaravati period and the early Ayutthaya era.

 

A: Visitors commonly pray for good fortune, wealth, prosperity, and overall auspiciousness.

 

A: Yes, the temple is easily accessible by private car from Kanchanaburi town.