Wat Khiri Banphot

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.00 – 17.00

 

Wat Khiri Banphot is located in Moo 4, Ban Kong Hae, Pong Yaeng Subdistrict, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai Province 50180. It is a non-royal Buddhist temple under the Maha Nikaya order. The temple was officially permitted to be established in 1895 and is currently led by Phra Sanan Charudhammo as abbot. Wat Khiri Banphot is a community temple of Ban Kong Hae, a highland village connected with mountain landscapes, forests, streams, agriculture, and the Mae Rim–Samoeng travel route.

 

The temple name suits its mountain setting. “Khiri” and “Banphot” both refer to mountains or highland landscapes, giving the temple a meaning closely related to its surrounding geography. Wat Khiri Banphot is therefore best understood as a Buddhist temple rooted in a mountain community rather than an urban temple separated from its local environment.

 

Ban Kong Hae is a highland community in Pong Yaeng Subdistrict. The area consists of hills, mountain slopes, valleys, streams, agricultural land, and watershed resources. Local life is closely connected with highland farming, forest care, water sources, and cool mountain weather. Wat Khiri Banphot belongs to this ecological and cultural setting, where Buddhist life and local livelihoods remain strongly connected.

 

The temple’s establishment in 1895 gives it considerable historical value. In earlier times, travel between highland villages and lowland areas was difficult. A village temple gave residents a nearby place to make merit, listen to dhamma teachings, observe Buddhist holy days, and gather for community ceremonies. Wat Khiri Banphot therefore served as both a spiritual center and a community meeting place for Ban Kong Hae.

 

As a non-royal Maha Nikaya temple, Wat Khiri Banphot reflects the faith and support of local people. Community temples in northern Thailand often grow through the devotion of villagers, lay supporters, and resident monks. The temple’s maintenance, merit-making events, Kathin, Pha Pa, almsgiving, and Buddhist holy day observances all depend on shared participation from the community.

 

The wider setting of Ban Kong Hae is significant because the village is connected with the Kaset Vitchaya Project. The project is located in Ban Kong Hae, Moo 4, Pong Yaeng Subdistrict, on 1,350 rai of royal land used for highland agricultural development, natural-resource restoration, water-resource development, and knowledge transfer for farmers. This makes the village an important area for sustainable highland agriculture and conservation, and Wat Khiri Banphot stands within that same community landscape.

 

Wat Khiri Banphot functions as the spiritual center of Ban Kong Hae. It supports Buddhist practice, merit-making, community ceremonies, and village gatherings. For local residents, the temple is not separate from daily life. It is part of the social structure of the village, connecting monks, elders, families, farmers, and supporters through shared religious activities.

 

The main appeal of Wat Khiri Banphot lies in its peaceful and living community character. It is not a large commercial tourist attraction and should not be approached only as a photo stop. Its value comes from its calm atmosphere, long history, village identity, and role as a real Buddhist center for Ban Kong Hae. Visitors who appreciate quiet cultural travel will find the temple meaningful as part of a deeper Mae Rim highland route.

 

Important areas of Wat Khiri Banphot include religious activity spaces, the temple courtyard, merit-making areas, and community Buddhist activity spaces. Specific public information about individual buildings such as the viharn, ordination hall, chedi, principal Buddha image, bell tower, or sermon hall is limited, so the temple is best presented as an active community temple with verified historical and religious status rather than described with unsupported architectural details.

 

Wat Khiri Banphot remains closely connected with the Buddhist calendar. Important activities include Buddhist holy days, Visakha Bucha, Buddhist Lent, the end of Buddhist Lent, Kathin, Pha Pa, almsgiving, and seasonal merit-making events. These occasions bring villagers together and help preserve the relationship between temple and community across generations.

 

A visit to Wat Khiri Banphot can be meaningfully connected with Ban Kong Hae and the Kaset Vitchaya Project. Travelers can begin with a respectful temple visit, then learn about highland agriculture, forest restoration, water management, and community-based resource development nearby. This makes a trip to Ban Kong Hae more than a scenic drive; it becomes a route that connects Buddhism, village life, agriculture, and environmental care.

 

Wat Khiri Banphot is suitable for travelers interested in community temples, highland villages, Pong Yaeng local culture, and a quieter side of Mae Rim. Many visitors come to the area for Mon Jam, cafés, resorts, and adventure activities, but stopping at the temple helps reveal the spiritual and community foundation beneath the modern tourism landscape.

 

Visitors should come with respect. Dress modestly, speak quietly, avoid disturbing monks or villagers, and observe local conduct during ceremonies. If a merit-making event is taking place, follow the guidance of local residents or temple staff. Wat Khiri Banphot is a sacred space for the Ban Kong Hae community and should be visited with a calm and considerate attitude.

 

Getting There is easiest by private car, rental car, or hired local transport. From Chiang Mai city, take Chotana Road toward Mae Rim, then continue along the Mae Rim–Samoeng route through Pong Yaeng Subdistrict to Ban Kong Hae, Moo 4. The road includes curves and elevation changes, so drive carefully, especially during rainy or foggy conditions.

 

Public transport is possible by taking a local route toward Mae Rim and continuing with local transport or a hired vehicle into Pong Yaeng and Ban Kong Hae. For travelers planning to visit several places in one day, a private car or hired driver is recommended because attractions, restaurants, and accommodations in the Pong Yaeng highland zone are spread along the mountain road.

 

Wat Khiri Banphot can be included in several routes. A community-focused route can combine the temple with the Kaset Vitchaya Project and Ban Kong Hae. A wider Mae Rim route can continue to Wat Pong Yaeng Chalerm Prakiat, Wat Theparam, Pongyang Jungle Coaster and Zipline, Pongyang Angdoi, Mon Jam, Nong Hoi Royal Project Development Center, Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, and Mae Sa Waterfall.

 

The best time to visit is in the morning or late afternoon, when the weather is cooler and the temple atmosphere is quiet. The cool season is ideal for combining a temple visit with viewpoints and overnight stays in Pong Yaeng or Mon Jam. During the rainy season, the mountains are lush, but visitors should drive carefully on wet or foggy roads.

 

Overall, Wat Khiri Banphot is a meaningful highland community temple in Ban Kong Hae, Pong Yaeng Subdistrict, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai. Established in 1895 as a non-royal Maha Nikaya temple, it remains a spiritual center for the village. Its value comes from its age, its role in local Buddhist life, and its location in a community known for highland agriculture, resource conservation, and the Kaset Vitchaya Project. It is recommended for travelers who want to experience Mae Rim in a quieter, deeper, and more community-based way.

 

 

A: Wat Khiri Banphot is located in Moo 4, Ban Kong Hae, Pong Yaeng Subdistrict, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai 50180, Thailand.

 

A: Wat Khiri Banphot is a non-royal Buddhist temple under the Maha Nikaya order.

 

A: Wat Khiri Banphot was officially permitted to be established as a temple in 1895.

 

A: The abbot of Wat Khiri Banphot is Phra Sanan Charudhammo.

 

A: Wat Khiri Banphot is the spiritual center of Ban Kong Hae and supports local Buddhist activities such as merit-making, dhamma listening, Kathin, Pha Pa, and Buddhist holy day observances.

 

A: It is suitable for travelers interested in highland community temples, Pong Yaeng local culture, quiet merit-making, and routes connected with the Kaset Vitchaya Project and Mon Jam.

 

A: From Chiang Mai city, take Chotana Road toward Mae Rim, then continue along the Mae Rim–Samoeng route through Pong Yaeng Subdistrict to Ban Kong Hae, Moo 4. A private car or rental car is the most convenient option.

 

A: Nearby places include the Kaset Vitchaya Project, Wat Pong Yaeng Chalerm Prakiat, Wat Theparam, Pongyang Jungle Coaster and Zipline, Pongyang Angdoi, Mon Jam, Nong Hoi Royal Project Development Center, Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, and Mae Sa Waterfall.