Wat Khao Takhrao

Rating: 3.5/5 (4 votes)

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.00 – 17.00

 

Wat Khao Takhrao is located at 59 Moo 5, Bang Khrok Subdistrict, Ban Laem District, Phetchaburi Province. It is a local (community) temple under the Mahanikaya order and has long been important to Ban Laem as a spiritual anchor and a center for religious and cultural life. This temple is not only a place for Buddhist ceremonies on holy days or major festivals, but also a living space that reflects the history of a coastal estuary community, waterways trade, Thai–Chinese connections, and the everyday rhythm of people who have long lived alongside canals and the Gulf of Thailand shoreline.

 

The temple grounds cover 88 rai 3 ngan 20 square wah. The northern boundary borders a public benefit drainage ditch; the eastern boundary borders Khlong Bang Khrok; and the southern and western boundaries border Khlong Khao Takhrao. The temple also holds two plots of monastic land (thoranee song) totaling 19 rai 2 ngan 20 square wah under land title deeds no. 5339 and 4391. The water-surrounded landscape points to the identity of a coastal community temple that grew hand-in-hand with historic water routes, meaning Wat Khao Takhrao is not an isolated landmark but a site deeply embedded in Ban Laem’s community structure.

 

Wat Khao Takhrao was established in 1764. Local legend says a Chinese merchant patron initiated the temple’s construction, and that a Chinese overseer with a long beard supervised the building work. Villagers therefore called it “Wat Khrao Chin” (the Chinese-beard temple) before the name gradually evolved into “Wat Khao Takhrao.” The story echoes the long-standing relationship between Ban Laem and maritime commerce, including the presence of overseas Chinese communities in coastal Phetchaburi. Because the temple’s name is tied to this legend, it has become a cultural marker that gives Wat Khao Takhrao a distinct identity still remembered today.

 

The temple’s monastic buildings have been developed continuously over time. The ordination hall (ubosot) measures 10 meters wide and 20 meters long, built in 1951 as a reinforced-concrete structure. The chanting hall is 8 meters wide and 12 meters long, built in 1977 as a single-story reinforced-concrete building. A large multipurpose pavilion measures 30 meters wide and 54 meters long, built in 1986 as a two-story hybrid structure (half masonry, half wood) in a Thai-applied style. In addition, there is a funeral merit pavilion, a reception building, two buildings for amulet and sacred item distribution, three buildings for incense and candle sales, a Chinese shrine pavilion, a museum building, five restroom blocks, three workers’ quarters, and a kitchen. Together, these facilities show that Wat Khao Takhrao is designed to accommodate regular religious activities, large merit-making events, and significant numbers of pilgrims in an organized way.

 

The temple’s key sacred objects include the principal Buddha image in the ordination hall named Luang Pho Thewarit, with a lap width of 77 inches and a height of 54 inches, serving as the ceremonial focal point inside the ubosot. The temple also houses Luang Pho Thong of Wat Khao Takhrao, a Maravijaya-posture Buddha image from the Ayutthaya period with a lap width of 21 inches, highly revered by local devotees and visiting pilgrims alike. Another important image is Luang Pho Pu Mo, the principal image of the vihara, with a lap width of 60 inches and a height of 77 inches. The site further includes a “yoh-liam-mai” (recessed-square) chedi and another chedi enshrining relics of the Lord Buddha. This combination gives the temple depth in artistry, belief, and Buddhist continuity.

 

Wat Khao Takhrao received its official boundary for monastic rites (wisungkhamsima) on 8 September 1955. The wisungkhamsima area measures 40 meters wide and 60 meters long. This royal grant is a significant marker of the temple’s stable status within Thailand’s Sangha system and reflects the community’s capacity to support major temple development during that era.

 

In education, Wat Khao Takhrao operates a Buddhist scripture school (Pali studies – Dhamma department), opened in 1952. As a result, the temple functions not only as a ritual space but also as a local learning center that trains monks and novices and sustains Buddhist knowledge over time.

 

Visiting Wat Khao Takhrao suits travelers who want to experience a coastal community temple shaped by legend, devotion, and well-organized facilities. Visitors should dress respectfully, keep quiet within sacred zones, and follow temple rules, especially during busy pilgrimage periods. Spending unhurried time on-site helps reveal both the devotional dimension and the broader coastal history of Ban Laem in a clearer, more meaningful way.

 

Getting There Wat Khao Takhrao is in Bang Khrok Subdistrict, Ban Laem District, Phetchaburi Province. The most convenient way is by private car. Use navigation search for “Wat Khao Takhrao, Ban Laem, Phetchaburi” to reach the temple easily. The temple sits close to surrounding canals and local neighborhoods, making it practical to combine a temple visit with other coastal and shoreline stops in Ban Laem within a single day trip.

 

 

A: The temple was established in 1764 and is associated with a local legend about a Chinese patron and a long-bearded construction overseer.

 

A: Key highlights include Luang Pho Thong (an Ayutthaya-period Buddha image), Luang Pho Thewarit, a chedi enshrining Buddha relics, and the “Wat Khrao Chin” (Chinese-beard temple) legend.

 

A: Wat Khao Takhrao received its wisungkhamsima on 8 September 1955.

 

A: Yes. The temple operates a Buddhist scripture school (Dhamma department) that opened in 1952, supporting Buddhist learning for monks and novices.

 

A: Travel by private car is the most convenient. Use navigation search for “Wat Khao Takhrao, Ban Laem, Phetchaburi” to reach the temple easily.