Wat Sa Chatthan

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.00 – 17.00

 

Wat Sa Chatthan, also locally identified as Wat Sa Chatthan (Nong Ap Chang), is a Maha Nikaya Buddhist temple in Moo 1, Ban Nong Ap Chang, San Pong Subdistrict, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai Province. The temple was officially permitted as a Buddhist temple in 1852 and was granted Wisungkhamsima in 1950. According to the original temple information provided, the abbot is Phra Bunloet Wutthithammo. Wat Sa Chatthan is one of the old community temples of San Pong, with more than 170 years of local Buddhist history.

 

The value of Wat Sa Chatthan lies in its role as a living community temple rather than a large commercial tourist attraction. Ban Nong Ap Chang belongs to San Pong Subdistrict, an area north of Mae Rim town connected by Highway 107, the Chiang Mai–Fang Road. The subdistrict contains several village temples, agricultural communities, local roads, and long-standing Buddhist traditions. Wat Sa Chatthan therefore represents the religious and social life of a local Mae Rim village.

 

The village name Nong Ap Chang is closely connected with local landscape memory. The word Nong suggests a pond or water source, while Chang means elephant. The temple name Sa Chatthan also carries Buddhist associations related to the Chatthan concept and Buddhist stories connected with the noble elephant. Together, the temple name and village name create a meaningful connection between water, elephants, local memory, and Buddhist symbolism.

 

The temple’s official establishment in 1852 makes Wat Sa Chatthan one of the older temples in San Pong. In the Lanna village context, a temple was not only a place of worship. It was also a social center, a space for merit-making, a place for Dhamma listening, a venue for ceremonies, and a spiritual anchor for the community. The presence of a temple in Ban Nong Ap Chang since the mid-nineteenth century shows the long religious foundation of the village.

 

The granting of Wisungkhamsima in 1950 is another important milestone. Wisungkhamsima defines a sacred boundary for formal Sangha acts, especially ceremonies connected with the ordination hall and monastic functions. This status shows that Wat Sa Chatthan became an established Buddhist temple with recognized ritual significance, not merely a local shrine or informal community space.

 

Wat Sa Chatthan remains active in contemporary Buddhist life. In 2026, Chiang Mai Primary Educational Service Area Office 2 organized a Buddhist Lent candle-offering activity at Wat Sa Chatthan, Ban Nong Ap Chang, to support Buddhism during the Buddhist Lent season. The temple also appears in 2026 Kathin information, showing that annual merit-making continues at the temple.

 

Municipal information also identifies the area beside Wat Sa Chatthan in Ban Nong Ap Chang as part of local infrastructure development, including a reinforced concrete road project next to the temple. This shows that the temple remains an important local landmark and that the area around the temple continues to be part of the living village environment.

 

In terms of religious objects, recent information records the offering of a small principal Buddha image to Wat Sa Chatthan in 2025. The image is a Maravijaya Buddha in Chiang Saen Singha 1 style, made of brass, lacquered and gilded, with a lap width of 9 inches. It was enshrined in the viharn for use in important temple ceremonies. This confirms that the temple has a viharn used for religious functions and that the community continues to strengthen its ritual space.

 

The Maravijaya posture has deep Buddhist meaning. It represents the moment when the Buddha overcame Mara before enlightenment. It symbolizes mental firmness, victory over defilements, and spiritual determination. The Chiang Saen artistic style also connects the image with northern Thai Buddhist art and the broader Lanna cultural world.

 

Important areas of Wat Sa Chatthan include the viharn, temple courtyard, hall, monks’ residence, merit-making areas, and community ceremony spaces. Publicly available information does not provide enough verified detail to describe the ubosot, chedi, relic shrine, or main principal Buddha image in depth. The temple should therefore be appreciated through its age, Wisungkhamsima, active community role, viharn, recent Buddha-image offering, and its continued use for Buddhist ceremonies.

 

The temple courtyard is socially important. In northern Thai village temples, the courtyard often becomes a gathering space during Kathin, robe-offering events, Buddhist Lent activities, funerary merit-making, Buddhist holy days, and community occasions. At Wat Sa Chatthan, this function helps connect monks, older residents, families, village leaders, and younger generations through shared religious and community activities.

 

Temple traditions at Wat Sa Chatthan follow the Buddhist and Lanna community calendar. These include Buddhist holy day merit-making, Buddhist Lent, candle offering, the end of Lent, Kathin, robe-offering events, funerary merit-making, and village merit-making occasions. Kathin is especially important because it takes place after Buddhist Lent and allows lay supporters to offer robes and donations to monks for temple maintenance and monastic use.

 

The role of Wat Sa Chatthan in Ban Nong Ap Chang can be seen in several layers. First, it is a Buddhist place for worship, sermons, merit-making, and ceremonies. Second, it is a social space where villagers gather. Third, it is part of the cultural memory of San Pong. Fourth, it is a local landmark connected with roads, community activities, and the broader temple network of Mae Rim.

 

For visitors, Wat Sa Chatthan is suitable for those who want to experience Mae Rim in a quieter and more locally grounded way. It is not a crowded landmark, but a village temple with historical depth and active Buddhist life. Visitors interested in old community temples, Lanna village culture, Buddhist ceremonies, and local Mae Rim routes will find the temple meaningful when visited respectfully and slowly.

 

Wat Sa Chatthan can be included in a San Pong temple route together with Wat Si Chomphu, Wat San Pong, Wat Nantharam, Wat Pho Nimit, Wat Kumpha Pradit, Wat Mani Pradit, and Wat Phra That Chom Taeng. Travelers can also continue toward Wat Pa Dara Phirom, Daraphirom Palace Museum, Tiger Kingdom Mae Rim, Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, or restaurants in Mae Rim. This route helps visitors understand Mae Rim beyond its major tourist attractions.

 

Getting There from Chiang Mai city is straightforward by private car, rental car, or hired vehicle. Take Highway 107, the Chiang Mai–Fang Road, toward Mae Rim District, then continue into San Pong Subdistrict and Ban Nong Ap Chang, Moo 1. Visitors using public transport should plan the local transfer from Mae Rim in advance because village temples are not always located on frequent public transport routes.

 

Wat Sa Chatthan is open daily from 08.00 to 17.00. The morning is suitable for worship and merit-making, while late afternoon is comfortable for a quiet walk around the temple. Visitors who plan to continue to nearby Mae Rim attractions should start early enough to avoid rushing between stops.

 

Visitors should follow standard temple etiquette. Modest dress is required, shoulders and knees should be covered, shoes should be removed before entering sacred areas, and loud behavior should be avoided. Photographs of monks, ceremonies, or local worshippers should not be taken at close range without permission. A community temple is a living religious space, so respect for local users of the temple is essential.

 

Overall, Wat Sa Chatthan is a meaningful old community temple of Ban Nong Ap Chang and San Pong Subdistrict. Its value lies in its official temple history from 1852, Wisungkhamsima granted in 1950, its Buddhist name and local landscape connection, its active role in Buddhist Lent and Kathin activities, and the recent enshrinement of a small Maravijaya Buddha image in the viharn. For travelers who want a quieter and more locally grounded view of Mae Rim, Wat Sa Chatthan is a worthwhile cultural stop.

 

 

A: Wat Sa Chatthan is located in Moo 1, Ban Nong Ap Chang, San Pong Subdistrict, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai Province 50180, Thailand.

 

A: Wat Sa Chatthan was officially permitted as a Buddhist temple in 1852 and was granted Wisungkhamsima in 1950, making it one of the old community temples of San Pong.

 

A: According to the original temple information, the abbot is Phra Bunloet Wutthithammo.

 

A: Wat Sa Chatthan is open daily from 08.00 to 17.00.

 

A: Its main value is its long history, Wisungkhamsima, community Buddhist role, active Buddhist Lent and Kathin activities, and its identity as the temple of Ban Nong Ap Chang.

 

A: Recent information records a small Maravijaya Buddha image in Chiang Saen Singha 1 style, made of brass, lacquered and gilded, with a 9-inch lap width, enshrined in the viharn.

 

A: Nearby places include Wat Si Chomphu, Wat San Pong, Wat Nantharam, Wat Pho Nimit, Wat Kumpha Pradit, Wat Phra That Chom Taeng, Wat Pa Dara Phirom, and Daraphirom Palace Museum.