Wat Pa Lan (Thung Tom)

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.00 – 17.00

 

Wat Pa Lan (Thung Tom), also known as Wat Pa Lan Thung Tom or Wat Luang, is a local Mahanikaya temple located at 168 Ban Pa Lan, Moo 2, Thung Tom Subdistrict, San Pa Tong District, Chiang Mai Province. Built in 1923 by the Tai Khun community, the temple covers 2 rai, 1 ngan, and 98 square wah, with one parcel of monastic land measuring 1 ngan and 35 square wah. Key features include the viharn, an applied Thai-style sermon hall with mural paintings, a two-storey half-concrete half-wood monks’ residence, a Tai Khun-style stucco Buddha image, a reclining Buddha image in a mondop, a standing teakwood disciple image, and a Thai-Burmese mixed-style chedi.

 

Wat Pa Lan (Thung Tom) is located at 168 Ban Pa Lan, Moo 2, Thung Tom Subdistrict, San Pa Tong District, Chiang Mai Province 50120. It is a local Buddhist temple under the Mahanikaya order. The temple land covers 2 rai, 1 ngan, and 98 square wah under title deed number 1182. The temple also has one parcel of monastic land measuring 1 ngan and 35 square wah. Wat Pa Lan is an important community temple of Ban Pa Lan and reflects the relationship between local Buddhism, the Tai Khun community, irrigation channels, and the agricultural landscape of Thung Tom.

 

The temple was built in 1923 and is also known as Wat Pa Lan Thung Tom or Wat Luang. It was built by Tai Khun people, which gives the temple strong cultural significance. The name Pa Lan suggests a landscape associated with lan palms or a lan grove, while the temple’s alternative name Wat Luang expresses its importance within the local community. The temple is therefore not only a place for worship but also a marker of settlement, cultural identity, and Buddhist faith in Ban Pa Lan.

 

Ban Pa Lan, Moo 2, belongs to Thung Tom Subdistrict, a lowland area of San Pa Tong District. The subdistrict is shaped by irrigation canals, the Mae Kung irrigation channel, rice fields, gardens, and village roads. It is also connected with the Chiang Mai – Hot route. In this setting, temples serve as religious, social, and cultural centers. Wat Pa Lan stands within this living landscape, where water, roads, fields, houses, and Buddhist practice are closely connected.

 

The temple boundaries show its relationship with the village environment. The northern boundary extends about 24 wah to a public road, the southern boundary about 23 wah to the San Pa Tong – Lamphun road, the eastern boundary about 42 wah to a public irrigation channel, and the western boundary about 44 wah to the Mae Kung irrigation channel. This position between public roads and irrigation channels shows that the temple is part of the everyday landscape of Ban Pa Lan.

 

The Mae Kung irrigation channel and the public irrigation channel are more than boundary markers. In Lanna agricultural communities, irrigation channels are essential to farming, gardening, and village life. A temple located beside these water systems becomes a spiritual center within the same landscape that sustains the community. Visitors should therefore view Wat Pa Lan together with its surrounding roads, irrigation channels, houses, fields, and local way of life.

 

The important structures of Wat Pa Lan include the viharn, an applied Thai-style sermon hall with mural paintings, and a two-storey monks’ residence built in a half-concrete half-wood form. The viharn is the main worship space. The sermon hall supports Dhamma listening, merit-making events, temple gatherings, and community activities. The monks’ residence supports monastic life, study, and daily religious duties. Together, these elements make the temple a functioning community temple.

 

The applied Thai-style sermon hall is especially interesting because it contains mural paintings. In local temples, mural paintings often communicate Buddhist stories, moral teachings, and the artistic taste of the community. They allow visitors to learn through images, not only through written history. Visitors should observe these murals respectfully, avoid touching the walls, and avoid disruptive behavior inside the religious building.

 

The viharn is the main devotional space of the temple. Important sacred objects at Wat Pa Lan include a Tai Khun-style stucco Buddha image, a reclining Buddha image in a mondop, a standing teakwood image representing a Buddhist disciple, and a Thai-Burmese mixed-style chedi. These features make Wat Pa Lan more distinctive than many small community temples because they reflect a combination of Tai Khun, Lanna, Thai, and Burmese artistic influences.

 

The Tai Khun-style stucco Buddha image is central to the temple’s identity. Its presence directly connects the temple with the community that built it. Tai Khun culture has its own artistic and religious expressions, and this Buddha image helps preserve that heritage within the temple. Visitors should approach it respectfully and take time to observe its form as part of the temple’s cultural value.

 

The reclining Buddha image in the mondop is another important feature. A reclining Buddha image often conveys calmness, release, and a significant moment in Buddhist tradition. Its placement inside a mondop creates a defined and respectful space for worship. Visitors should keep voices low, behave modestly, and treat the space as a sacred area rather than a simple sightseeing point.

 

The standing teakwood image of a Buddhist disciple is valuable both religiously and artistically. Teakwood has long been important in northern Thailand because it is durable and suitable for carving. A teakwood religious image is therefore both a sacred object and a work of local craftsmanship. Visitors should not touch such objects without permission because old wooden religious works require care and preservation.

 

The Thai-Burmese mixed-style chedi is another highlight of Wat Pa Lan. Its mixed style reflects the cultural exchanges that shaped Lanna Buddhist art. A chedi is not merely a decorative structure. It represents Buddhist continuity, community devotion, and sacred memory. Visitors should observe the chedi respectfully and avoid climbing, touching, or placing objects in inappropriate areas.

 

The two-storey half-concrete half-wood monks’ residence reflects architectural adaptation over time. This type of structure combines the strength of concrete with the warmth of wood, a common practical approach in northern temple and village buildings. Since the residence is a monastic living space, visitors should avoid entering without permission and should not disturb monks or private areas.

 

Phra Khru Santachittanuyut is listed in the temple’s administrative record as the abbot of Wat Pa Lan. In a community temple, the abbot plays an important role in maintaining temple order, caring for religious structures, guiding Buddhist activities, and sustaining the relationship between monks and lay supporters. The temple remains active through cooperation among monks, temple committees, village leaders, and local residents.

 

Wat Pa Lan plays an important role in Ban Pa Lan. It is a place for Buddhist holy days, merit-making, Dhamma listening, ordinations, funerals, dedication ceremonies, and annual religious activities. During temple events, villagers gather to prepare food, clean the temple, welcome guests, offer food to monks, and support the temple according to their faith. These activities help maintain both Buddhist practice and community relationships.

 

Religious traditions connected with Wat Pa Lan should be understood within the wider context of Lanna community temples. These include Buddhist holy days, Buddhist Lent, the end of Buddhist Lent, Kathin robe offerings, forest robe offerings, ordination ceremonies, funerals, dedication ceremonies, and seasonal merit-making. These are not only rituals; they are repeated forms of community cooperation that keep village culture alive.

 

The main highlights of Wat Pa Lan are its Tai Khun community origin, Tai Khun-style stucco Buddha image, reclining Buddha image in a mondop, standing teakwood disciple image, Thai-Burmese mixed-style chedi, mural paintings in the sermon hall, and two-storey half-concrete half-wood monks’ residence. The temple is suitable for visitors interested in quiet merit-making, local Buddhist art, Tai Khun heritage, and old temple routes in San Pa Tong.

 

Visitors should approach Wat Pa Lan respectfully. Dress modestly, remove shoes before entering religious buildings, keep voices low, avoid entering monks’ private areas without permission, and do not touch Buddha images, murals, wooden objects, or old religious items. If a ceremony or merit-making event is taking place, visitors should give priority to local participants. Wat Pa Lan remains a living community temple, so respectful conduct is essential.

 

Getting There is most convenient by private car or rental car. From Chiang Mai city, travel south via the Chiang Mai – Hang Dong – San Pa Tong route or Highway 108, then continue into Thung Tom Subdistrict and Ban Pa Lan, Moo 2. The temple is located within the village area and can be combined with nearby temples, restaurants, and accommodations in San Pa Tong.

 

A practical connected route can begin at Wat Pa Lan, then continue to Wat Klang Thung, Wat Ko Kao, Wat Chang Kradat, Wat Boon Nak, Wat Rattanaram, Wat Thung Tom, Wat Suphan Rangsri, and Wiang Tha Kan. Travelers who want a broader cultural route can continue toward Tha Wang Phrao Subdistrict, where old temples such as Wat Ton Naen Luang, Wat Tha Wang Phrao, Wat Mongkhon, Wat Si Rattanaram, and Wat Don Chai add further depth to the San Pa Tong temple route.

 

The best time to visit is in the morning or late afternoon during opening hours. These periods are more comfortable for a quiet temple visit. During the rainy season, visitors should consider local road and irrigation conditions because Thung Tom is a lowland area with irrigation channels and canals. During Buddhist holy days or temple events, visitors should give priority to local residents and observe temple etiquette carefully.

 

Overall, Wat Pa Lan (Thung Tom) is an old Mahanikaya community temple of Ban Pa Lan, Moo 2, Thung Tom Subdistrict, San Pa Tong District, Chiang Mai Province. Built in 1923 by Tai Khun people, the temple preserves important features such as the viharn, applied Thai-style sermon hall with mural paintings, two-storey half-concrete half-wood monks’ residence, Tai Khun-style stucco Buddha image, reclining Buddha image in a mondop, standing teakwood disciple image, and Thai-Burmese mixed-style chedi. For visitors interested in Tai Khun Buddhist heritage, local temple art, and quiet cultural routes in San Pa Tong, Wat Pa Lan is a meaningful destination.

 

 

A: Wat Pa Lan (Thung Tom) is located at 168 Ban Pa Lan, Moo 2, Thung Tom Subdistrict, San Pa Tong District, Chiang Mai Province 50120.

 

A: Wat Pa Lan (Thung Tom) is open daily from 08.00 to 17.00.

 

A: Wat Pa Lan (Thung Tom) is also known as Wat Pa Lan Thung Tom or Wat Luang.

 

A: Wat Pa Lan was built in 1923 by Tai Khun people.

 

A: Important structures include the viharn, the applied Thai-style sermon hall with mural paintings, and the two-storey half-concrete half-wood monks’ residence.

 

A: Important sacred objects include a Tai Khun-style stucco Buddha image, a reclining Buddha image in a mondop, a standing teakwood Buddhist disciple image, and a Thai-Burmese mixed-style chedi.

 

A: The abbot listed in the temple administrative information is Phra Khru Santachittanuyut.

 

A: Nearby places include Wat Klang Thung, Wat Ko Kao, Wat Chang Kradat, Wat Boon Nak, Wat Rattanaram, and Wiang Tha Kan.