Wat Wari Sutthawat (Wat Rangsisutthawat)

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.00 – 17.00

 

Wat Wari Sutthawat, also known as Wat Rangsisutthawat or locally as Wat Rong Khun, is located at No. 67, Ban Rong Khun, Moo 10, San Pu Loei Subdistrict, Doi Saket District, Chiang Mai Province. It is a local Buddhist temple under the Mahanikaya order. The temple was officially established in 1865 and received its royal consecrated boundary in 1997. The abbot is Phra Thanaphat Yanamethi. Wat Wari Sutthawat is an important spiritual center of Ban Rong Khun and one of the active community temples in San Pu Loei.

 

Ban Rong Khun is a village community in San Pu Loei Subdistrict, Doi Saket District. The area has both semi-urban and semi-rural characteristics, with homes, local roads, schools, agricultural land, irrigation routes, and connections to Chiang Mai city, Doi Saket, San Sai, and San Kamphaeng. Wat Wari Sutthawat therefore functions not only as a village temple but also as a landmark of community identity and local Buddhist life.

 

The formal name Wat Wari Sutthawat has a calm and auspicious meaning. “Wari” refers to water, freshness, and nourishment, while “Sutthawat” suggests a pure dwelling or sacred place. The local name Wat Rong Khun connects the temple directly with Ban Rong Khun. These names together reflect both the temple’s religious identity and its place in local memory.

 

The temple’s establishment in 1865 gives it more than a century and a half of local history. In earlier village life, a temple was much more than a place for worship. It served as a center for moral learning, merit-making, family rites, annual ceremonies, and community gatherings. Wat Wari Sutthawat should therefore be understood as a historic community temple of San Pu Loei rather than only a map destination.

 

The temple received its royal consecrated boundary in 1997. In Thai Buddhist practice, a consecrated boundary is essential for formal monastic acts that must be performed within a properly defined sacred area. This confirms the temple’s religious status and its ability to support important Sangha activities.

 

The temple land covers about 1 rai and 3 ngan. It also has one plot of monastic land covering about 1 rai and 50 square wah. The temple’s surroundings are closely connected with the community: one side is near Kamthorn Uthit School, another side adjoins a road, and other sides are associated with private fields and orchards. This setting reflects the Lanna pattern in which temples, schools, roads, farms, and village homes form one connected community landscape.

 

Important temple structures include the viharn, sermon hall, multipurpose pavilion, monks’ residences, and ubosot. The viharn serves as a central worship and religious activity space. The sermon hall and multipurpose pavilion support merit-making, Dhamma listening, community meetings, and annual events. The monks’ residences support monastic life, while the ubosot serves formal religious functions.

 

The most important sacred feature of Wat Wari Sutthawat is its ancient Lanna-style chedi. In Lanna Buddhist culture, a chedi is a major focus of devotion and a symbol of the temple’s spiritual identity. Visitors should approach the chedi respectfully, take time for quiet reflection, and understand it as a central point of local faith.

 

Phra Thanaphat Yanamethi serves as the abbot of Wat Wari Sutthawat. In a community temple, the abbot’s role is essential for maintaining religious activities, caring for the temple grounds, guiding devotees, and preserving the relationship between the temple and the village. This helps the temple remain a living spiritual center rather than only a historical site.

 

Wat Wari Sutthawat is part of a wider network of San Pu Loei community temples. Nearby temples include Wat Don Chai, Wat Chet Tha Won Khup, Wat Chai Sathan, Wat Chai Sathit, Wat Yang Thong, Wat Rattanapanya Rangsit, and Wat San Pu Loei Sali Wiang Kaeo. Together, these temples support the religious, cultural, and community life of the subdistrict.

 

The temple serves Ban Rong Khun on several levels. Religiously, it is a place for worship, offerings to monks, sermons, and Buddhist holy day activities. Socially, it is a gathering place for villagers during merit-making, family rites, and community occasions. Culturally, it helps preserve the northern Thai relationship between home, temple, school, elders, youth, and annual traditions.

 

Annual traditions connected with San Pu Loei community temples include Buddhist holy day merit-making, offerings to monks, Kathin ceremonies, forest robe offerings, Buddhist Lent, Ok Phansa, Yi Peng, Tan Kuai Salak, Lanna New Year, elder water-pouring ceremonies, relic or chedi-related worship traditions, and other Buddhist calendar activities. These events allow villagers to support the temple, gather as a community, and pass Buddhist values to younger generations.

 

The main appeal of Wat Wari Sutthawat is its identity as a historic village temple with a Lanna-style chedi and active community role. It is not a large commercial tourist attraction. Its value lies in its quiet atmosphere, local faith, Buddhist structures, and connection with Ban Rong Khun.

 

Important things to observe include the ancient Lanna-style chedi, viharn, ubosot, sermon hall, multipurpose pavilion, monks’ residences, courtyard, worship areas, and the atmosphere of Ban Rong Khun. Visitors should approach the temple calmly, respect local worshippers, and understand the temple as a living part of the village.

 

Wat Wari Sutthawat is suitable for travelers interested in quiet Lanna community temples, old temples in Doi Saket, Lanna-style chedis, San Pu Loei temple routes, and local Buddhist life near Chiang Mai. It offers a calm and authentic view of how village temples continue to serve communities around Chiang Mai.

 

Travel to Wat Wari Sutthawat is most convenient by private car, rental car, or local hired transport. From Chiang Mai city, use Highway 121 or the San Sai–Doi Saket route, then continue to Ban Rong Khun, Moo 10, San Pu Loei. The temple may appear on map services as Wat Wari Sutthawat, Wat Rangsisutthawat, or Wat Rong Khun.

 

A practical route can begin at Wat Wari Sutthawat for worship and a quiet temple visit. From there, visitors can continue to Wat Yang Thong, Wat Chai Sathit, Wat Chai Sathan, Wat Don Chai, Wat Chet Tha Won Khup, or Wat San Pu Loei Sali Wiang Kaeo. For a broader route, travelers can include Tha Rua Market, Bo Sang Umbrella Village, Chamcha Market, or Tweechol Botanical Garden.

 

Nearby dining options include local Thai restaurants, Isan restaurants, steak houses, cafés, and Tha Rua-area food stops. Useful options include Lung Boon Thai Steak, Im Aroi 1, Kai Yang Wichian Buri San Pu Loei, Tokyo Homemade Tha Rua, and Isan Zabb Suud Pak Tha Rua San Pu Loei. These stops make it easy to combine the temple with a practical half-day food-and-temple route.

 

Nearby accommodation options include Enchanted Garden Bungalows, Ouychai Resort/Home Stay, C-Hill Camp & Resort, Baan Chai Thung Resort, and Tao Garden Health Spa & Resort. Travelers who want easy access to San Pu Loei may prefer accommodation near the main road, while those seeking a quieter setting may choose places deeper in Doi Saket or Choeng Doi.

 

Visitors should follow normal Thai temple etiquette. Dress modestly, keep voices low, remove shoes where required, respect monks and local worshippers, avoid disturbing ceremonies, and do not enter private monastic areas without permission. If visiting during a local merit-making event, follow the temple’s space arrangements and help keep the temple clean.

 

In summary, Wat Wari Sutthawat, also known as Wat Rangsisutthawat or Wat Rong Khun, is a historic Mahanikaya community temple in Ban Rong Khun, Moo 10, San Pu Loei Subdistrict, Doi Saket District, Chiang Mai. Established in 1865 and granted its royal consecrated boundary in 1997, the temple is important for its Lanna-style chedi, Buddhist structures, long community history, and continuing role in local religious life. It is a valuable stop for travelers who want to understand Doi Saket through living village temples and Lanna faith.

 

 

A: Wat Wari Sutthawat is located at No. 67, Ban Rong Khun, Moo 10, San Pu Loei Subdistrict, Doi Saket District, Chiang Mai Province.

 

A: Yes. It is also known as Wat Rangsisutthawat and locally known as Wat Rong Khun.

 

A: The temple was officially established in 1865 and received its royal consecrated boundary in 1997, making it a long-standing community temple of Ban Rong Khun and San Pu Loei.

 

A: The abbot of Wat Wari Sutthawat is Phra Thanaphat Yanamethi.

 

A: Important buildings include the viharn, sermon hall, multipurpose pavilion, monks’ residences, and ubosot.

 

A: The main sacred feature is the ancient Lanna-style chedi, which serves as an important point of worship for the community.

 

A: The temple is suitable for travelers interested in quiet Lanna community temples, old temples in Doi Saket, Lanna-style chedis, and San Pu Loei temple routes.

 

A: Nearby places include Wat Yang Thong, Wat Chai Sathit, Wat Chai Sathan, Wat Don Chai, Wat Chet Tha Won Khup, Tha Rua Market, and Bo Sang Umbrella Village.