Wat Phra Bat Tin Nok

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.00 – 17.00

 

Wat Phra Bat Tin Nok is a local Buddhist temple under the Maha Nikaya order, located at 38 Moo 10, Ban Phra Bat Tin Nok, Nong Yaeng Subdistrict, San Sai District, Chiang Mai Province 50210. The temple covers about 80 rai and was established in 1872. It stands on a hill associated with the legendary footprint of the golden peacock, a bodhisattva form connected in local belief with a former life of the Buddha. A chedi was later built to cover the footprint, giving rise to the sacred name Phra Chedi Phra Bat Tin Nok and the present temple name.

 

Ban Phra Bat Tin Nok is Moo 10 of Nong Yaeng Subdistrict in San Sai District. The temple differs from many village-center temples because it is located on a hill with a strong sacred-landscape identity. The surrounding area connects local villages, agricultural communities, roads toward San Sai and Doi Saket, and the landscape near Mae Kuang Dam. Wat Phra Bat Tin Nok therefore combines village faith, hilltop scenery, local legend, and Buddhist devotion in one place.

 

The name Phra Bat Tin Nok comes from the legend of a golden peacock footprint on laterite stone. According to local belief, the Buddha once recalled a former life as a golden peacock. The bird flew to this hill and left its footprint on soft laterite, which later hardened into stone. Because of this footprint, villagers called the hill Doi Phra Bat Tin Nok. When a chedi was built over the footprint, the temple became known as Wat Phra Bat Tin Nok.

 

The golden peacock legend also connects the temple with nearby villages, especially Ban Thung Khao Tok. The story says that the golden peacock often flew to feed around Nong Hiang. A hunter saw the beautiful bird and wanted to capture it. He went to a nearby village to buy unhusked rice, roasted it into popped rice, and used it as bait. This story gave rise to the name Ban Thung Khao Tok and connects the village legend with the sacred hill of Wat Phra Bat Tin Nok.

 

The main sacred object of the temple is the chedi covering the golden peacock footprint. For local devotees, this chedi is not merely a structure but the heart of the temple’s identity. Visitors should begin by paying respect at the chedi, observing the place quietly, and understanding that the site is sacred to the local community. The chedi links the temple with Buddhist memory, local storytelling, and Lanna sacred geography.

 

Historical temple records describe Wat Phra Bat Tin Nok as a Maha Nikaya temple with around 80 rai of temple land and an additional 10 rai of monastic land. Important structures include the viharn, sermon hall, alms pavilion, and monks’ residences. The key sacred feature is the chedi covering the golden peacock footprint. These elements show that the temple functions both as a historic hilltop temple and as a community religious place.

 

The hilltop location gives the temple a distinctive atmosphere. Visitors can reach the upper temple area by a steep road or by a long staircase. The staircase is decorated with makara-and-naga motifs, a familiar northern Thai temple element that creates a symbolic transition from ordinary ground to a sacred hilltop space. The climb itself becomes part of the devotional experience.

 

A large Buddha image on a raised base is visible from a distance, especially from the area facing Mae Kuang Dam. This hilltop Buddha image helps make the temple a visible spiritual landmark in the surrounding landscape. From the upper area, visitors can enjoy broad views toward San Sai, Doi Saket, and nearby rural and mountain scenery.

 

Wat Phra Bat Tin Nok is also associated with Khruba Chao Siwichai, the highly revered Lanna monk known for restoring many religious sites in northern Thailand. In 1930, Khruba Chao Siwichai and his disciples traveled from Ban Luang in Phrao District and stayed at this temple for two days. His presence adds another layer of Lanna devotional significance to the temple’s history.

 

The temple has had many abbots across its history, reflecting long continuity of monastic care. Later records include Phra Athikan Singkham Thitapunyo, Phra Boontha Ninnathammo, Phra Athikan Phuwanai Thitasatho, and Phra Khru Winaithon Chonwichit Wisutthiyano, whose term is recorded up to 2024. Since recent public survey information recorded that a new abbot was being contacted, the current abbot name is not included in the main summary table.

 

An important annual tradition is the bathing of the relic chedi on the full moon of the northern eighth lunar month, corresponding with Visakha Bucha Day. This ceremony preserves the relationship between the community and Phra Chedi Phra Bat Tin Nok. It brings devotees back to the hilltop temple to make merit, pay respect, and maintain a Lanna Buddhist tradition tied directly to the temple’s sacred legend.

 

The temple is also connected with Tak Bat Thewo, the post-Buddhist Lent alms-giving tradition. The naga staircase area and the multipurpose grounds of Ban Phra Bat Tin Nok have been used for large community ceremonies with many monks and local residents. The hilltop setting gives the tradition a strong spatial meaning, as the landscape itself supports the symbolism of descent and merit-making after Buddhist Lent.

 

Wat Phra Bat Tin Nok serves the community in several ways. Religiously, it is a place for worship, merit-making, chedi veneration, and annual ceremonies. Culturally, it preserves the golden peacock legend, the origin of Ban Thung Khao Tok, and the sacred identity of Doi Phra Bat Tin Nok. Spatially, it is a viewpoint and hilltop landmark. Socially, it gathers local devotees from Ban Phra Bat Tin Nok and nearby Nong Yaeng communities during annual Buddhist events.

 

Important points to see include Phra Chedi Phra Bat Tin Nok, the large Buddha image, naga staircase, hilltop viewpoint, viharn, sermon hall, alms pavilion, monks’ residences, and natural surroundings. Visitors should understand the temple first as a sacred place and only second as a viewpoint. Its deepest value lies in the footprint legend and the continuing reverence of local people.

 

Wat Phra Bat Tin Nok is suitable for visitors interested in old temples, Lanna legends, hilltop viewpoints, and quieter Buddhist routes outside Chiang Mai city. The atmosphere is peaceful, and the journey offers a different experience from temples in the old city. During the rainy season, visitors should take extra care on the road and stairs. In the dry season, checking visibility and air quality before visiting is useful because haze can affect the view.

 

A visit can be combined with nearby places in Nong Yaeng and San Sai, including Mae Kuang Dam, Wat Thung Khao Tok, Wat Ban Dong Charoen Chai, Wat Buak Pao, Wat Rong Meng, Wat Nong Yaeng, and Wat Wiwek Wanaram. This makes a practical half-day or full-day route for visitors who want to explore local temples, sacred legends, hilltop views, and rural communities in the San Sai and Doi Saket area.

 

Getting There is easiest by private car, rental car, or ride-hailing service. Set the destination as Wat Phra Bat Tin Nok or Ban Phra Bat Tin Nok, Moo 10, Nong Yaeng Subdistrict, San Sai District, Chiang Mai Province. From Chiang Mai city, travel toward San Sai or Doi Saket, then continue into the Ban Phra Bat Tin Nok area. The temple can be reached by road and by staircase; drivers should be careful on steep sections, in wet weather, and during festival days.

 

Because Wat Phra Bat Tin Nok is an active sacred place on a hill, visitors should dress modestly, keep voices low, remove shoes where required, and avoid touching the footprint, chedi, Buddha images, or sacred objects without permission. During the chedi bathing ceremony or Tak Bat Thewo, visitors should respect the ceremony and the needs of local devotees before taking photographs.

 

 

A: Wat Phra Bat Tin Nok is located at 38 Moo 10, Ban Phra Bat Tin Nok, Nong Yaeng Subdistrict, San Sai District, Chiang Mai 50210, Thailand.

 

A: The temple was founded in 1872 on a hill associated with the legendary footprint of the golden peacock. A chedi was built over the footprint, becoming the sacred center of the temple.

 

A: The name comes from the local belief that a golden peacock, connected with a former life of the Buddha, left its footprint on laterite stone on this hill.

 

A: Highlights include Phra Chedi Phra Bat Tin Nok, the golden peacock footprint legend, large Buddha image, naga staircase, hilltop viewpoint, and the temple’s connection with Khruba Chao Siwichai.

 

A: Wat Phra Bat Tin Nok is open daily from 08.00 to 17.00. Visitors should allow time for the hill road or staircase and take care on steep sections.

 

A: There is no admission fee. Visitors may make donations according to their faith and discretion.

 

A: Important traditions include the chedi bathing ceremony on the full moon of the northern eighth lunar month, corresponding with Visakha Bucha Day, and Tak Bat Thewo after Buddhist Lent.

 

A: Nearby places include Mae Kuang Udom Thara Dam, Wat Thung Khao Tok, Wat Ban Dong Charoen Chai, Wat Buak Pao, and Wat Wiwek Wanaram.