Wat Kong Sai

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.00 – 17.00

 

Wat Kong Sai is a local Buddhist temple under the Mahanikaya monastic order, located in Ban Kong Sai, Moo 6, Nong Phueng Subdistrict, Saraphi District, Chiang Mai Province. The temple stands along the Chiang Mai–Lamphun road corridor and is an important community temple of Ban Kong Sai. It was officially established in 1887 and received its Wisungkhamsima on 7 February 1918, with the monastic boundary measuring 20 meters wide and 40 meters long. The temple land covers 4 rai, 2 ngan, and 14 square wah under land title No. 1667, with three additional monastic land plots. The current abbot is Phra Khru Chantharat Sathit, and the temple has 5 resident monks.

 

Wat Kong Sai should be understood as an old community temple of Nong Phueng rather than just a roadside temple. Its history includes several layers: a traditional association with the Wiang Kum Kam period, the old name Wat Yang Num, a period of abandonment, revival by Thao Kon Sit and local villagers in 1887, and the renaming of the temple after the sandy soil found throughout the site. The temple therefore reflects local history, community faith, and the physical landscape of Saraphi District.

 

The former name of the temple was Wat Yang Num because the temple area was once full of yang trees. Local tradition tells of a very large yang tree whose stump was wide enough for 8 people to sit around and eat together after it was cut. This story preserves the memory of the older forested landscape and shows how the temple and village were once closely tied to large trees, shade, and the natural environment.

 

The present name, Wat Kong Sai, comes from the sandy ground found during the temple’s reconstruction. When villagers dug into the area, they repeatedly found sand, so the temple came to be called Kong Sai, meaning a mound or accumulation of sand. The name records the physical character of the site and preserves the experience of the people who rebuilt the temple.

 

Local history connects Wat Kong Sai with the Wiang Kum Kam period. According to local tradition, the original temple was built during the time of King Mangrai when Wiang Kum Kam was established, with Chao Mae Kham Phrae remembered as the founder. The temple later became abandoned before villagers revived it in a later period. This story connects the temple with the older historical landscape of Saraphi and the Ping River basin.

 

Nong Phueng Subdistrict is home to several old temples and archaeological sites associated with the wider Wiang Kum Kam landscape, including Wat Phra Non Nong Phueng, Wat Ku Jok Pok, and Wat Kum Kam Teepram. Wat Kong Sai adds an active community temple to this cultural landscape. It is not only a historical memory; it remains a living Buddhist temple with resident monks and ongoing religious activities.

 

The modern revival of Wat Kong Sai in 1887 was led by Thao Kon Sit, a local practitioner or community doctor who encouraged villagers to rebuild the temple. His role shows how local leaders in the past often supported both community welfare and religion. Reviving the abandoned temple meant restoring both a sacred space and a shared center for village life.

 

After being officially established in 1887, Wat Kong Sai continued to develop and received its Wisungkhamsima on 7 February 1918. A Wisungkhamsima is the formal monastic boundary used for important Sangha rites, especially ordination and ecclesiastical ceremonies. Receiving this boundary confirmed the temple’s religious status and strengthened its role as a community Buddhist center.

 

The temple boundaries connect with public roads on all four sides. This setting reflects the character of a temple located within the daily movement of the village. Wat Kong Sai is accessible to local residents and visitors and functions as a central public and religious space for the community.

 

The main structures of Wat Kong Sai include monks’ residence, viharn, sermon hall, ordination hall, stupa, pagoda, kitchen building, and bell tower. These elements allow the temple to support monastic residence, worship, Dhamma listening, formal Sangha rites, community merit-making, food preparation for ceremonies, and temple activity signals.

 

The viharn is an important devotional space for worship, Dhamma listening, and village religious activities. Visitors should remove shoes where required, speak softly, and pay respect calmly. In a Lanna community temple, the viharn is a living sacred space where villagers gather for Buddhist holy days, merit-making, and family ceremonies.

 

The ordination hall is directly connected with the temple’s Wisungkhamsima and formal monastic activities. Visitors should approach it respectfully, avoid disturbing monks, and understand that it is not merely an architectural building but a sacred area governed by Buddhist monastic discipline.

 

The stupa and pagoda are important sacred features within the temple. In Lanna Buddhism, pagodas represent the stability of the religion and serve as points of reverence for local devotees. Visitors should walk respectfully around these areas and avoid touching, climbing, or leaning on sacred structures.

 

The sermon hall is central to the temple’s community role. It is used for Dhamma listening, merit-making, temple meetings, and village activities. In a Lanna community temple, a sermon hall is both a religious and social space where villagers gather and support temple life together.

 

The kitchen building reflects the communal nature of temple merit-making. Buddhist ceremonies in a village temple often depend on residents helping prepare food, offerings, and reception for participants. The kitchen therefore shows the practical relationship between the temple and the community that sustains it.

 

The bell tower adds another layer to the living atmosphere of the temple. The sound of the bell is connected with monastic routine, temple activities, and village awareness. It forms part of the religious soundscape that links the temple with everyday community life.

 

The monks’ residence supports the continuity of temple life. With 5 resident monks, Wat Kong Sai can maintain daily chanting, monastic routines, alms-related activities, religious guidance, and ceremonies for local people. The temple therefore remains an active Buddhist center rather than only a historic site.

 

Phra Khru Siri Chanthawisut Sitichanto was a former abbot of Wat Kong Sai and a former ecclesiastical head of Nong Phueng Subdistrict. He was deeply respected by local devotees and passed away in 2020. His memory remains part of the temple’s devotional history. The current abbot, Phra Khru Chantharat Sathit, continues the temple’s role as a spiritual center for the community.

 

Wat Kong Sai serves as the spiritual center of Ban Kong Sai. It supports Buddhist holy days, Buddhist Lent, the end of Buddhist Lent, Kathin, robe-offering ceremonies, Songkran, elder-respect customs, Yi Peng, and local merit-making. These events bring villagers together to make merit, offer food, listen to Dhamma, and maintain Lanna Buddhist traditions.

 

During Songkran or Lanna New Year, the name Kong Sai also resonates with the northern Thai custom of bringing sand into the temple and forming sand mounds as an act of merit. Although the temple name comes from the sandy ground of the site, the connection between sand, temple practice, and merit-making adds cultural meaning for visitors interested in local traditions.

 

The main appeal of Wat Kong Sai for visitors is its layered history: the former name Wat Yang Num, the local tradition connected with Wiang Kum Kam, the revival of an abandoned temple in 1887, the origin of the name from sandy soil, the presence of stupa and pagoda, and the continuing life of a community temple. It is suitable for visitors interested in old temples of Saraphi, Nong Phueng community temples, and the wider Wiang Kum Kam cultural route.

 

The atmosphere of the temple is calm and local. Visitors should allow around 30 to 60 minutes to observe the viharn, ordination hall, sermon hall, stupa, pagoda, kitchen building, bell tower, monks’ residence, and surrounding temple grounds. Morning or late afternoon is generally the most comfortable time to walk around the temple.

 

Visitors should dress modestly, speak softly, remove shoes before entering sacred buildings, avoid touching Buddha images, pagodas, or sacred objects unnecessarily, and avoid disturbing monks or villagers during ceremonies. If a merit-making event is taking place, visitors should allow space for local participants and behave respectfully within the temple grounds.

 

Getting There is possible by taking the Chiang Mai–Lamphun Road from Chiang Mai city toward Saraphi District and continuing into Nong Phueng Subdistrict and Ban Kong Sai, Moo 6. Private car, rental car, or local hired transport is the most convenient option. The temple can be combined easily with other old temples and archaeological sites in Nong Phueng and the wider Wiang Kum Kam area.

 

A practical cultural route can begin at Wat Kong Sai and continue to Wat Phra Non Nong Phueng, Wat Ku Jok Pok archaeological site, Wat Kum Kam Teepram archaeological site, Wat Ko Pracham Hong, Wat Saraphi, and Wat Chang Khoeng. Travelers who want to extend the route can continue to Wat Mongkhon Wanaram, Wat Pak Kong, and other temples in Saraphi Subdistrict. This route helps visitors understand Saraphi through old temples, archaeological sites, Wiang Kum Kam, the Chiang Mai–Lamphun road, and living Lanna Buddhist traditions.

 

Overall, Wat Kong Sai is valuable for its history, Buddhist identity, and community role. With roots in local tradition associated with Wiang Kum Kam, the former name Wat Yang Num, revival in 1887, Wisungkhamsima granted in 1918, and continuing monastic residence, the temple remains a meaningful destination for travelers interested in the quieter cultural side of Saraphi District and the living temple communities of Nong Phueng.

 

 

A: Wat Kong Sai is located in Ban Kong Sai, Moo 6, Chiang Mai–Lamphun Road, Nong Phueng Subdistrict, Saraphi District, Chiang Mai Province. It is a local Buddhist temple under the Mahanikaya monastic order.

 

A: Wat Kong Sai was formerly known as Wat Yang Num because the area once had many yang trees. It was later renamed Wat Kong Sai after sandy soil was found throughout the temple site during reconstruction.

 

A: Wat Kong Sai was officially established in 1887 and received its Wisungkhamsima on 7 February 1918.

 

A: Local tradition says the original temple was built during the time of King Mangrai when Wiang Kum Kam was established, with Chao Mae Kham Phrae remembered as the founder. The temple later became abandoned and was revived in 1887.

 

A: Visitors can see the viharn, ordination hall, sermon hall, stupa, pagoda, kitchen building, bell tower, monks’ residence, and the calm atmosphere of a living community temple in Nong Phueng.

 

A: The abbot of Wat Kong Sai is Phra Khru Chantharat Sathit. Phra Khru Siri Chanthawisut Sitichanto was an important former abbot and former ecclesiastical head of Nong Phueng Subdistrict.

 

A: Wat Kong Sai is open daily from 08.00 to 17.00.

 

A: Nearby places include Wat Phra Non Nong Phueng, Wat Ku Jok Pok Archaeological Site, Wat Kum Kam Teepram Archaeological Site, Wat Ko Pracham Hong, Wat Saraphi, Wat Chang Khoeng, and the wider Wiang Kum Kam cultural route.