Wat Chai Sathit

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.00 – 17.00

 

Wat Chai Sathit is located at 24 Moo 1, Ban San Phak Wan, San Phak Wan Subdistrict, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai Province. It is a private Buddhist temple under the Mahanikaya order, with a temple land area of 8 rai, 1 ngan, and 88 square wah. The temple was permitted to be built in 1807 and received royal granting of wisungkhamsima in 1822. Wat Chai Sathit is the main community temple of Ban San Phak Wan, valued for its Buddhist role, its connection with the origin of the San Phak Wan place name, and its annual Phra That bathing tradition.

 

San Phak Wan Subdistrict lies in Hang Dong District, not far from Chiang Mai city. The area connects with Chiang Mai–Hang Dong Road, Route 108, canal road routes, the outer ring road, and local roads leading into village communities. It includes old villages, community temples, local food, accommodations, handicraft areas, and family attractions. Wat Chai Sathit is therefore a meaningful stop for travelers who want to combine a peaceful temple visit with nearby places such as Wat Chimphliwan, Kad Farang Village, Baan Tawai Handicraft Village, North Hill Golf Club, Grand Canyon Water Park Chiang Mai, Wat Ton Kwen, Chiang Mai Night Safari, and Royal Park Rajapruek.

 

The temple is closely tied to the history of Ban San Phak Wan. The original temple was built through the faith of local villagers at a sweet Marian plum forest, known locally as pa maprang wan. It was first named Wat Pa Phang Wan. Later, the area was part of a local administrative territory called San Ma Phang Wan. As the administrative name changed and the pronunciation shifted, San Ma Phang Wan gradually became San Phak Wan. The temple was then known by the community name before later being renamed Wat Chai Sathit.

 

The name Wat Chai Sathit carries an auspicious meaning. Chai suggests victory, success, and blessing, while Sathit suggests stability, presence, and firm establishment. Together, the name can be understood as a place where auspiciousness and virtue remain firmly established. This meaning fits the temple’s role as the spiritual center of Ban San Phak Wan, where local people make merit, listen to sermons, join ceremonies, and maintain Buddhist practice throughout the year.

 

The establishment date of 1807 makes Wat Chai Sathit one of the older community temples in the Hang Dong area. A Lanna village temple is not merely a religious building. It is a center where monks and villagers meet, where families make merit, where important life events are marked through Buddhist rites, and where community memory is preserved across generations. Wat Chai Sathit therefore represents both Buddhist devotion and the long-term identity of Ban San Phak Wan.

 

The royal granting of wisungkhamsima in 1822 gave Wat Chai Sathit a formal boundary for monastic acts. The consecrated boundary is recorded as 20 meters wide and 44 meters long. This status is important for a village temple because it confirms the temple’s ability to support formal Sangha activities according to Buddhist discipline. Wat Chai Sathit combines an old local origin story with continuing religious function in the present day.

 

The important structures of Wat Chai Sathit include an ubosot, sermon hall, and monks’ residences. The ubosot supports formal monastic acts and represents the temple’s religious status. The sermon hall provides space for Dhamma listening, merit-making meetings, and community activities. The monks’ residences support monastic life and daily religious duties. Together, these structures allow Wat Chai Sathit to function fully as a community temple.

 

The important sacred objects include Buddha images in various postures and a chedi. The Buddha images serve as devotional centers where villagers and visitors can calm the mind, make offerings, and reflect on Buddhist teachings. The chedi and Phra That area are especially important during the temple’s annual Phra That bathing tradition, when devotees gather to pay respect, make merit, and renew their connection with the temple.

 

The contemporary abbot recorded in local temple information is Phra Athikan Kittisak Siriwatthano. He is also associated with the role of chairman of the local public training unit for San Phak Wan Subdistrict. This reflects the wider role of monks in a community temple: caring for the temple, leading ceremonies, giving Dhamma guidance, supporting community ethics, and maintaining the relationship between monks and villagers.

 

The recorded line of abbots includes Khru Ba Te Pin, Khru Ba Pinta, Khru Ba Kan, Khru Ba Potha, Khru Ba Techa, Khru Ba Pa Po, Khru Ba Kham Pan Brahmapanyo, Phra Khru Somchai Kittisophano, and Phra Athikan Kittisak Siriwatthano. This succession shows continuity of monastic leadership and temple care from earlier generations to the present.

 

The main appeal of Wat Chai Sathit is its direct connection with the origin story of San Phak Wan. The route from pa maprang wan to Wat Pa Phang Wan, from San Ma Phang Wan to San Phak Wan, and finally to Wat Chai Sathit shows how temples, village names, plants, local pronunciation, and community identity are closely connected in Lanna culture. For cultural travelers, the temple is a useful place to understand how local history is preserved through temple names and place names.

 

The most important annual tradition associated with Wat Chai Sathit is the Phra That bathing ceremony. This event allows devotees to pay respect to the Phra That, worship the Buddha, make merit, ask for blessings, and preserve Lanna Buddhist tradition. It is not only a religious ceremony but also a community gathering day for Ban San Phak Wan, when families, elders, children, and local residents come together around the temple.

 

In Lanna belief, bathing a Phra That is an act of devotion toward the Triple Gem and a way to purify the mind. Participants often pray for family wellbeing, good health, clarity of mind, and peaceful life. For Wat Chai Sathit, the ceremony also strengthens the bond between the temple and the community because the Phra That and chedi serve as shared symbols of faith for local residents.

 

Regular Buddhist activities at Wat Chai Sathit follow the rhythm of Lanna village temple life. These include Buddhist holy day merit-making, alms-giving, sermons, kathin, pha pa, Visakha Bucha, Asalha Bucha, Buddhist Lent, the end of Buddhist Lent, memorial merit-making, and the annual Phra That bathing ceremony. These activities bring monks, elders, families, young people, and neighbors together through shared religious practice.

 

Wat Chai Sathit plays an important role as the spiritual center of Ban San Phak Wan. When villagers hold merit-making events, ceremonies, or Buddhist observances, the temple provides both sacred space and community gathering space. Monks lead religious practice, while villagers support the temple and maintain it as a shared community asset. This relationship between temple and village is central to Lanna community Buddhism.

 

San Phak Wan has several community temples, including Wat Chimphliwan, Wat Thawon Tham, Wat Phasukaram, and Wat Latthiwanaram. Each temple serves its own village and preserves a specific local identity. Wat Chimphliwan is known for its golden coconut legend, while Wat Chai Sathit is known for its connection with the origin of San Phak Wan and its Phra That bathing tradition.

 

For travelers, Wat Chai Sathit is suitable as a quiet cultural stop in a Hang Dong itinerary. It can be combined with Wat Chimphliwan, Kad Farang Village, Baan Tawai Handicraft Village, North Hill Golf Club, Grand Canyon Water Park Chiang Mai, Wat Ton Kwen, Chiang Mai Night Safari, and Royal Park Rajapruek. A cultural route can begin with Wat Chai Sathit, Wat Chimphliwan, and Baan Tawai, while a family route can continue to Grand Canyon Water Park Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai Night Safari, or Royal Park Rajapruek.

 

Wat Chai Sathit is suitable for elderly visitors seeking peaceful worship, families traveling around Hang Dong, cultural travelers interested in San Phak Wan history, and visitors who want to understand Chiang Mai through real community temples. Its value lies in simplicity, long history, the story of Wat Pa Phang Wan, the place-name development of San Phak Wan, the ubosot, sermon hall, monks’ residences, Buddha images, chedi, Phra That, and annual community merit-making.

 

Getting There is convenient by private car, rental car, or hired transport from Chiang Mai city. Take Chiang Mai–Hang Dong Road or Route 108 through the Hang Dong area, then continue into San Phak Wan Subdistrict and Ban San Phak Wan, Moo 1. Another option is to use the canal road, outer ring road, and local roads of San Phak Wan. The drive from central Chiang Mai generally takes around 25 to 40 minutes depending on traffic.

 

The best time to visit is in the morning or late afternoon when the weather is more comfortable. Visitors should dress modestly, keep noise low, respect monks’ areas, avoid disturbing worshippers or ceremony participants, and take photos with discretion. If a merit-making event, Phra That bathing ceremony, kathin ceremony, or community activity is taking place, local participants should be given priority. Wat Chai Sathit remains an active community temple, so a calm and respectful visit is the best way to experience it.

 

In summary, Wat Chai Sathit is a historic community temple of Ban San Phak Wan, San Phak Wan Subdistrict, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai Province. Its value lies in its establishment in 1807, royal granting of wisungkhamsima in 1822, origin as Wat Pa Phang Wan, connection with the name San Phak Wan, important temple structures, Buddha images, chedi, Phra That, and annual Phra That bathing tradition. It is a meaningful stop for travelers who want to understand Chiang Mai through local temples, village memory, and living Lanna Buddhist culture.

 

 

A: Wat Chai Sathit is located at 24 Moo 1, Ban San Phak Wan, San Phak Wan Subdistrict, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai 50230, Thailand.

 

A: Wat Chai Sathit was formerly known as Wat Pa Phang Wan and later Wat San Phak Wan before receiving its present name.

 

A: Wat Chai Sathit was permitted to be built in 1807 and received royal granting of wisungkhamsima in 1822.

 

A: The area was once called San Ma Phang Wan and later shifted in pronunciation to San Phak Wan. The temple was once known by the community name before being renamed Wat Chai Sathit.

 

A: Visitors can see the ubosot, sermon hall, monks’ residences, Buddha images in various postures, chedi, Phra That, temple courtyard, and the calm atmosphere of a Ban San Phak Wan community temple.

 

A: The important tradition is the Phra That bathing ceremony of Wat Chai Sathit, a community merit-making event that preserves Lanna Buddhist practice.

 

A: Wat Chai Sathit is open daily from 08.00 to 17.00.

 

A: Nearby places include Wat Chimphliwan, Kad Farang Village, Baan Tawai Handicraft Village, North Hill Golf Club, Grand Canyon Water Park Chiang Mai, Wat Ton Kwen, Chiang Mai Night Safari, and Royal Park Rajapruek.