Wat Si Sawat

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.00 – 17.00

 

Wat Si Sawat is located in Ban Kok Mon, Moo 5, San Pu Loei Subdistrict, Doi Saket District, Chiang Mai Province. It is a local Buddhist temple under the Mahanikaya order. The temple was established in 1827 and received its royal consecrated boundary on 14 June 1929. The abbot is Phra Kham Pan Thanissaro. Wat Si Sawat is an important spiritual center of Ban Kok Mon and one of the historic community temples in San Pu Loei.

 

Ban Kok Mon is a village community in San Pu Loei Subdistrict, located within Doi Saket District on the eastern side of Chiang Mai. The area connects Chiang Mai city with Doi Saket, San Sai, San Kamphaeng, Tha Rua, Pa Khui, Pa Sao, Yang Thong, and other nearby communities. Wat Si Sawat is therefore not only a village temple but also part of the wider religious landscape of San Pu Loei.

 

The name “Si Sawat” carries an auspicious meaning. “Si” suggests beauty, value, and prosperity, while “Sawat” suggests peace, safety, and well-being. The temple is also connected with the name Wat San Kok Mon in historical references related to its consecrated boundary. This connection gives the temple both a formal religious identity and a strong relationship with the local village name.

 

The temple’s establishment in 1827 gives it nearly two centuries of history. In older village life, a temple was not only a place for worship. It served as a center for moral learning, merit-making, family rites, annual ceremonies, and community gatherings. Wat Si Sawat should therefore be understood as a long-standing community temple of Ban Kok Mon rather than only a simple map destination.

 

The temple received its royal consecrated boundary on 14 June 1929. In Thai Buddhist practice, a consecrated boundary is important 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 2 rai. This size is consistent with a village community temple that focuses on local religious use rather than large-scale tourism. Wat Si Sawat supports worship, merit-making, Dhamma listening, family ceremonies, and annual Buddhist activities for the local community.

 

Important features found at the temple include the viharn, ubosot, ancient Buddha images, and a chedi with a bowl-shaped or gourd-shaped top. The viharn is a key worship space, while the ubosot is connected with formal monastic functions. The ancient Buddha images and the chedi give the temple religious and cultural significance within the Ban Kok Mon community.

 

The chedi is one of the important points to observe. 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 part of the temple’s faith landscape.

 

The ancient Buddha images are also important worship points. In a village temple, Buddha images are not only artistic objects but also devotional centers for local people. They are used for worship, merit-making, blessings, and quiet reflection. Visitors should pay respect calmly and avoid disturbing local worshippers.

 

Phra Kham Pan Thanissaro serves as the abbot of Wat Si Sawat. 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 Si Sawat is part of the wider network of San Pu Loei temples. Nearby temples include Wat Don Chai, Wat Chet Tha Won Khup, Wat Chai Sathan, Wat Chai Sathit, Wat Yang Thong, Wat Rattanapanya Rangsit, Wat Wari Sutthawat, 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 Kok Mon on several levels. Religiously, it is a place for worship, offerings to monks, sermons, and Buddhist holy day observances. 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, elders, youth, and annual traditions.

 

Annual traditions connected with community temples in San Pu Loei 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, 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 Si Sawat is its identity as a quiet historic village temple with important Buddhist structures and sacred objects. It is not a large commercial tourist attraction. Its value lies in its long history, peaceful setting, local faith, ancient Buddha images, and chedi.

 

Important things to observe include the viharn, ubosot, ancient Buddha images, chedi, courtyard, worship areas, and the atmosphere of Ban Kok Mon. Visitors should approach the temple calmly, respect local worshippers, and understand the temple as a living part of the village.

 

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

 

Travel to Wat Si Sawat 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 Kok Mon, Moo 5, San Pu Loei. A private vehicle makes it easier to combine the temple with nearby temples, local restaurants, markets, and cultural attractions in one trip.

 

A practical route can begin at Wat Si Sawat for worship and a quiet village temple visit. From there, visitors can continue to Wat Chet Tha Won Khup or Wat Pa Khui, Wat Don Chai or Wat Tha Rua, Wat Chai Sathan or Wat Pa Sao Noi, Wat Chai Sathit or Wat Pa Sao Luang, Wat Yang Thong, or Wat Rattanapanya Rangsit. For a broader route, visitors can also 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, Som Tam Kai Yang Khon Kaen Tha Rua, Tokyo Homemade Tha Rua, Im Aroi 1, and Kai Yang Wichian Buri San Pu Loei. These stops make it easy to combine the temple with a 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 Si Sawat is a historic Mahanikaya community temple in Ban Kok Mon, Moo 5, San Pu Loei Subdistrict, Doi Saket District, Chiang Mai. Established in 1827 and granted its royal consecrated boundary on 14 June 1929, the temple is important for its local history, ancient Buddha images, chedi, and continuing role in Ban Kok Mon’s Buddhist life. It is a valuable stop for travelers who want to understand Doi Saket through living village temples and Lanna faith.

 

 

A: Wat Si Sawat is located in Ban Kok Mon, Moo 5, San Pu Loei Subdistrict, Doi Saket District, Chiang Mai Province.

 

A: Yes. The temple is connected with the name Wat San Kok Mon in historical references related to its royal consecrated boundary.

 

A: Wat Si Sawat was established in 1827 and received its royal consecrated boundary on 14 June 1929, making it a long-standing community temple of Ban Kok Mon and San Pu Loei.

 

A: The abbot of Wat Si Sawat is Phra Kham Pan Thanissaro.

 

A: Important things include the viharn, ubosot, ancient Buddha images, and a chedi with a bowl-shaped or gourd-shaped top.

 

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

 

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

 

A: Wat Si Sawat is listed as open daily from 08.00 to 17.00.