Wat Phra Bat Udom

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.00 – 17.00

 

Wat Phra Bat Udom, also known as Wat Phra Phutthabat Udom Nam Bo Sao Wa, is a private Buddhist temple under the Mahanikaya monastic order. It is located in Moo 3, Ban Nong Ueng, Phra Nang Sam Phio area, Wiang Subdistrict, Fang District, Chiang Mai Province 50110. The temple is one of the important religious and historical sites of Fang because it combines Buddhist faith, local history, sacred objects, Lanna art, and the legend of King Fang Udomsin and Queen Sam Phio.

 

Wat Phra Bat Udom is suitable for travelers who want to visit a temple in Fang District with both spiritual and historical value. The temple stands in Ban Nong Ueng, an old community in Wiang Subdistrict. A visit here offers more than a quiet local temple experience. It also introduces visitors to the memory of old Fang through sacred objects, temple architecture, local legends, and the historic site of Nam Bo Sao Wa near the temple.

 

The temple’s history has several layers. Local tradition says that the temple was originally built during the period of King Fang Udomsin, then later became deserted. In 1877, Chao Noi Mahawong Bunthawongsa restored the temple buildings and invited Khruba Ke from Wat Dab Pai in Chiang Mai city to serve as abbot. At that time, local people called the temple “Wat Doi.” Later, the temple was officially established on 10 July 1883 and received Wisungkhamsima, the royal consecrated boundary for monastic ceremonies, on 24 March 1969.

 

The granting of Wisungkhamsima is significant because it confirms the temple’s formal status within the Thai Buddhist system. A Wisungkhamsima is a consecrated boundary used for important monastic acts, especially those connected with the ordination hall and ordination ceremonies. Wat Phra Bat Udom therefore is not only an old temple associated with legend, but also a fully recognized Buddhist temple where the local community has continued to perform religious activities.

 

The temple grounds cover about 12 rai, 2 ngan, and 44 square wah. Important temple structures include an ordination hall, viharn, sermon hall, monks’ residences, multipurpose hall, and monks’ dining hall. Each area plays a role in temple life. The ordination hall is used for monastic ceremonies. The viharn is a space for worship. The sermon hall and multipurpose hall support merit-making, Buddhist teachings, and community gatherings. The monks’ residences and dining hall support the daily life of resident monks.

 

One of the most important sacred objects at Wat Phra Bat Udom is a bronze Buddha image in the Mara-Vijaya posture, made in Lanna style and registered by the Fine Arts Department. This image gives the temple strong artistic and cultural value. The temple also has an old chedi and a replica of the Buddha’s footprint, which is closely connected with the temple’s name. Visitors should take time to pay respect to these sacred objects and observe the temple as a place where faith, art, and local history are preserved together.

 

Nam Bo Sao Wa is an important feature that gives Wat Phra Bat Udom a strong historical and legendary dimension. The area in front of the temple is associated with the legend of King Fang Udomsin and Queen Sam Phio. According to local legend, Queen Sam Phio was renowned for her beauty. When the Burmese army surrounded Fang, the king and queen did not want to become captives or be separated from one another. The legend connects them with Nam Bo Sao Wa. Some versions say that they jumped into the well together, while other versions say that loyal attendants sacrificed themselves to mislead the invading army and help the royal couple escape. These different versions all reflect themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the deep memory of old Fang.

 

In the historical landscape of Fang, Nam Bo Sao Wa and the legend of Queen Sam Phio make Wat Phra Bat Udom more than a place for worship. The temple connects Buddhist space with local memory. Travelers interested in the history of Fang should also visit the King Fang Udomsin and Queen Sam Phio Monument in the health park in front of the temple. Together, the temple, the well, and the monument create a compact cultural route for understanding the identity of Fang.

 

Wat Phra Bat Udom has also played an educational and community role. The temple had a Buddhist scripture school, Dhamma division, opened in 1988, and has served as a local public training unit. This shows that the temple has not only supported rituals, but also moral education, community learning, and public life. Like many Lanna community temples, Wat Phra Bat Udom functions as both a religious center and a social center for Ban Nong Ueng and nearby communities.

 

Phra Khru Suchittanurak Thantachitto is identified as the abbot of Wat Phra Bat Udom in the source information. In a historically important temple, the abbot’s role includes maintaining the temple, caring for monks, supporting Buddhist activities, preserving the temple’s relationship with the community, and helping sustain the memory of local history connected with King Fang Udomsin and Queen Sam Phio.

 

Wat Phra Bat Udom remains active through Buddhist activities. One notable activity is the summer novice ordination program for the descendants and community of King Fang and Queen Sam Phio. Such activities support moral education for young people, promote Buddhist learning, and connect younger generations with local history. This confirms the temple’s continuing role as a living Buddhist institution, not simply an old site.

 

Merit-making activities connected with Wat Phra Bat Udom include Buddhist holy days, Makha Bucha Day, Visakha Bucha Day, Asalha Bucha Day, Buddhist Lent, the end of Buddhist Lent, Kathin, Pha Pa, summer novice ordination, and community activities related to the memory of King Fang Udomsin and Queen Sam Phio. These activities allow local people to make merit, preserve community identity, and care for a temple that has deep meaning in Fang’s history.

 

The highlights for visitors include the replica of the Buddha’s footprint, the chedi, the bronze Lanna Buddha image, the ordination hall, the viharn, Nam Bo Sao Wa, and the King Fang Udomsin and Queen Sam Phio Monument in front of the temple. Visitors interested in old temples and local history can make Wat Phra Bat Udom the main stop of a cultural route in Fang because it contains more historical content than many ordinary community temples.

 

The atmosphere of Wat Phra Bat Udom is calm and appropriate for careful, respectful exploration. Visitors can begin by paying respect inside the main temple area, then see the replica of the Buddha’s footprint and the chedi. After that, they can continue to the area connected with Nam Bo Sao Wa and the monument in front of the temple. This route helps visitors understand how the temple, legend, and community memory are connected.

 

Visitors should dress modestly, speak quietly, avoid disturbing monks or worshippers, and refrain from touching sacred objects inappropriately. Photography should be done with respect, especially in areas where people are praying. Wat Phra Bat Udom is both a temple for local residents and a historical destination for visitors, so respect for the space is essential.

 

Getting There is easiest by private car or rental car. From Chiang Mai city, take Highway 107 toward Fang District, passing Mae Rim, Mae Taeng, Chiang Dao, and Chai Prakan before entering Fang. The distance from Chiang Mai city to Fang is roughly 150–160 km and usually takes around 2.5–3.5 hours depending on traffic and road conditions. Once in Fang, continue to Wiang Subdistrict and Ban Nong Ueng, Moo 3, or search for Wat Phra Bat Udom in a navigation app.

 

Travelers using public transport can take a Chiang Mai–Fang bus or van, then continue by local transport, songthaew, or hired vehicle from Fang town to Ban Nong Ueng. A private vehicle is more convenient because the temple can easily be combined with nearby temples, monuments, restaurants, accommodations, Fang Hot Spring, and Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park.

 

A practical route begins at Wat Phra Bat Udom in the morning, continues to the King Fang Udomsin and Queen Sam Phio Monument in front of the temple, then moves on to Wat Pannaram or Wat Chedi Ngam in Wiang Subdistrict. Travelers with more time can continue to Fang Hot Spring in the afternoon or extend the trip to Doi Pha Hom Pok and Doi Ang Khang for nature-based travel.

 

The best time to visit is in the morning from about 08.00 to 10.00 or in the late afternoon when the weather is milder. During the cool season, Fang District is especially pleasant for combining temple visits with natural attractions. During the rainy season, travelers should allow extra time, especially if continuing toward hot springs or mountain areas.

 

Wat Phra Bat Udom is best presented as a historical temple of Fang. It combines Buddhist status, sacred objects, Lanna art, the legend of Nam Bo Sao Wa, and the memory of King Fang Udomsin and Queen Sam Phio. A visit here gives travelers not only a chance to make merit, but also a deeper understanding of Fang’s religious, cultural, and historical identity.

 

 

A: Wat Phra Bat Udom is located in Ban Nong Ueng, Phra Nang Sam Phio area, Moo 3, Wiang Subdistrict, Fang District, Chiang Mai Province 50110.

 

A: Wat Phra Bat Udom is open daily from 08.00 to 17.00.

 

A: The temple is linked with King Fang Udomsin, was restored in 1877, officially established in 1883, and granted Wisungkhamsima in 1969.

 

A: Visitors should see the replica of the Buddha’s footprint, the chedi, the Lanna bronze Buddha image, the ordination hall, the viharn, and the area connected with Nam Bo Sao Wa.

 

A: The area in front of the temple is linked with Nam Bo Sao Wa and the legend of King Fang Udomsin and Queen Sam Phio, an important local story of Fang.

 

A: Phra Khru Suchittanurak Thantachitto is identified as the abbot of Wat Phra Bat Udom in the source information.

 

A: Take Highway 107 from Chiang Mai city toward Fang District, then continue to Wiang Subdistrict and Ban Nong Ueng, Moo 3.

 

A: Nearby places include the King Fang Udomsin and Queen Sam Phio Monument, Wat Pannaram, Wat Chedi Ngam, Wat Chong Paen, and Fang Hot Spring.