Wat Det Damrong

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.00 – 17.00

 

Wat Det Damrong is a local Buddhist temple located at 98 Ban Kad, Moo 6, Khun Khong Subdistrict, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai Province 50230. It is a community temple under the Mahanikaya order and has long been connected with Ban Kad, one of the old communities of Khun Khong Subdistrict. The temple serves as a spiritual center, a place for Buddhist ceremonies, and a living cultural learning space for local Lanna traditions.

 

Wat Det Damrong is especially meaningful because it grew together with Ban Kad. The temple was formerly known as Wat Bot and is remembered locally as one of the old temples of the community. For local residents, the temple is not only a religious building but also a place that preserves village memory, family merit-making, Buddhist practice, and community identity.

 

Ban Kad is an old village in Khun Khong Subdistrict, Hang Dong District. Its name reflects the northern Thai word “kad,” meaning market. Local history connects the village with old trading activities, river routes, and the nearby Tha Khun Khong area along the Ping River. In this setting, Wat Det Damrong became the spiritual anchor of a community shaped by trade, agriculture, kinship, and Buddhist tradition.

 

The temple’s history contains more than one historical layer. One account places its origin around 1761, while another temple record gives 1876 as the year of establishment. The temple also received its royal grant of consecrated boundary around 1857. These multiple dates show that the temple has passed through different stages of development, restoration, and formal religious organization.

 

The consecrated boundary is important because it gives the temple a proper area for formal monastic acts. This allows the temple to support both everyday merit-making and important Buddhist ceremonies. Wat Det Damrong therefore functions as a complete village temple, supporting monks, laypeople, annual festivals, and long-standing religious practice.

 

The abbot of Wat Det Damrong is Phra Kru Charuwanphiphat Charuwanno. His role is central to the temple’s continuing religious life, including temple maintenance, Buddhist ceremonies, community activities, and the preservation of local traditions. A temple with this level of community importance depends on the cooperation of monks, temple committees, and local devotees.

 

The temple covers 6 rai and 90 square wah of land. It is known for its shady and peaceful atmosphere, with many trees that make the grounds suitable for merit-making, meditation, and cultural learning. In 1994, the temple was recognized as both a model developed temple and an educational park temple, reflecting its role beyond ordinary worship.

 

Important structures at the temple include the ubosot, sermon hall, and monks’ residences. The ubosot is used for formal monastic ceremonies, while the sermon hall supports dhamma listening, merit-making, community meetings, and annual Buddhist events. The monks’ residences allow the temple to remain an active monastic place.

 

Important sacred objects include Buddha images in various postures and the chedi. These are the main devotional points for visitors and local residents. Visitors should approach the Buddha images and chedi respectfully, speak quietly, dress modestly, and avoid touching sacred objects inappropriately.

 

Wat Det Damrong also has an important story connected with sacred relics. On 12 January 1993, three local devotees of the temple discovered relics at an old deserted temple site known locally as Wat Ku Daeng. The relics were cleaned and later enshrined at Wat Det Damrong, becoming an important object of devotion for the people of Ban Kad.

 

The relics numbered 364 pieces and became part of the temple’s sacred history. Since then, the community has maintained an annual relic-bathing tradition on 5 May. This ceremony gives villagers an opportunity to worship the relics, make merit, and preserve a shared spiritual memory of the community.

 

The annual bathing of the sacred relics is one of the most meaningful traditions of Wat Det Damrong. It links Buddhist devotion with local identity and allows the people of Ban Kad to gather around a sacred object that represents blessing, memory, and faith. The ceremony is not only an individual act of merit but a community ritual.

 

Wat Det Damrong is also a learning place for Lanna traditions throughout the year. Important activities include the Songkran or Lanna New Year season, Buddhist holy days, the Buddhist Lent period, kathin, salak phat merit-making, new rice merit-making, village spirit shrine ceremonies, and Loy Krathong. These traditions keep the temple closely connected with village life.

 

During the three months of Buddhist Lent, around 50 to 60 local devotees traditionally stay overnight at the temple to observe precepts, meditate, chant, and practice dhamma. This practice has been handed down from older generations and shows the strong bond between the temple and the people of Ban Kad.

 

The Buddhist Lent practice at Wat Det Damrong is an important example of living community Buddhism. Laypeople temporarily reduce worldly activities, stay close to the temple, listen to dhamma, chant, and train the mind together. This makes the temple a place of practice, not only a ceremonial venue.

 

The temple continues to hold important annual activities. In 2025, Wat Det Damrong participated in a nationwide kathin project, with five resident monks. This shows that the temple remains active, supported by local devotees, and integrated into the annual cycle of Buddhist merit-making.

 

Another modern role of the temple is its connection with the Hang Dong community radio operation center. This reflects the temple’s continuing role as a community hub. It supports not only religion and tradition but also communication, local coordination, and community learning.

 

The main things to see at Wat Det Damrong are the ubosot, sermon hall, chedi, Buddha images, shady temple grounds, and the atmosphere of a living village temple. Visitors who come during a Buddhist event will see the close relationship between monks, villagers, family groups, and local merit-making traditions.

 

Wat Det Damrong is suitable for travelers interested in community temples, Ban Kad history, sacred relic traditions, Lanna Buddhist culture, Buddhist Lent practice, and cultural routes in Hang Dong District. The value of the temple lies in its living community use as much as in its buildings and sacred objects.

 

A nearby route can connect Wat Det Damrong with other places in Khun Khong Subdistrict, including Wat Khun Khong, Wat Ton Kaeo, Wat Thawai, Wat Thammapradit Sathan, Wat Wong Metha, and Ban Tawai, one of Hang Dong’s best-known woodcarving and handicraft villages.

 

Getting There is easiest by private car, rental car, or local transport. From Chiang Mai city, travel toward Hang Dong District, continue through the Ban Tawai and Khun Khong area, then enter Ban Kad, Moo 6. Set the destination to Wat Det Damrong, Ban Kad, Khun Khong Subdistrict, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai.

 

Visitors should dress modestly, speak quietly, and respect monastic spaces. During Buddhist Lent or temple ceremonies, visitors should follow local arrangements, avoid disturbing practitioners, and take photographs politely. A respectful visit helps preserve the temple’s sacred and community atmosphere.

 

Wat Det Damrong is a valuable temple for those who want to understand Chiang Mai through its local communities. Its history, sacred relics, shady grounds, educational role, Buddhist Lent practice, and annual traditions make it a meaningful stop in Hang Dong District, especially for travelers interested in living Lanna Buddhist culture.

 

 

A: Wat Det Damrong is located at 98 Ban Kad, Moo 6, Khun Khong Subdistrict, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai 50230.

 

A: The temple is open daily from 08.00 to 17.00.

 

A: Wat Det Damrong is a local Buddhist temple under the Mahanikaya order.

 

A: Wat Det Damrong is an old temple of Ban Kad, formerly known as Wat Bot. One historical account places its origin around 1761, while another temple record gives 1876. It also received its royal grant of consecrated boundary around 1857.

 

A: The abbot is Phra Kru Charuwanphiphat Charuwanno.

 

A: Important features include the ubosot, sermon hall, monks’ residences, Buddha images, chedi, sacred relics, and the shady temple grounds.

 

A: Main traditions include the annual relic-bathing ceremony on 5 May, Lanna New Year, Buddhist Lent practice, salak phat, kathin, new rice merit-making, and other community ceremonies.

 

A: It is suitable for travelers interested in local Lanna temples, Ban Kad history, sacred relic traditions, Buddhist Lent practice, and cultural routes connecting Ban Tawai and Khun Khong Subdistrict.