Wat Yang Ong Nam

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: Daytime visits are recommended

 

Wat Yang Ong Nam in Tak Province is an old local Buddhist temple located at No. 136, Ban Yang Ong Nam, Moo 5, Mae Salid Subdistrict, Ban Tak District. Affiliated with the Mahā Nikāya order, the temple stands on 4 rai, 3 ngan, and 72 square wah of temple land, with an additional 2 plots of monastic land totaling 15 rai. It is a meaningful community temple that reflects the long relationship between Buddhism, riverside settlement, village life, and local faith in Ban Tak District.

 

The temple was established around 1772 and was named after the old village of Ban Yang Ong. In the past, the area was associated with Yang On Subdistrict in the former Sam Ngao minor district area before being identified with Mae Salid Subdistrict in present-day Ban Tak District. With a history of more than 250 years, Wat Yang Ong Nam is not only a place for worship, but also an important record of local settlement and Buddhist community life.

 

The temple’s land boundaries show its strong connection with the surrounding community and landscape. To the north and south, the temple borders public roads. To the east, it borders a river. To the west, it also borders a public road. This setting reflects a traditional pattern of Thai village temples, where temples were often located near water, local routes, and residential areas. Wat Yang Ong Nam therefore belongs directly to the living geography of the village.

 

The temple is located on lowland ground, making it suitable for religious buildings and community activities. Important temple structures include an ordination hall measuring 9 meters wide and 22 meters long, built in 1983; a sermon hall measuring 24 meters wide and 22 meters long, built in 1982; a viharn measuring 9 meters wide and 12 meters long; and 2 monks’ residences. These structures support worship, merit-making, Buddhist ceremonies, community gatherings, and monastic residence.

 

The ordination hall is one of the temple’s most important sacred spaces. Wat Yang Ong Nam received its consecrated boundary on July 3, 1985, with a boundary area measuring 25 meters wide and 50 meters long. This consecrated boundary gives the temple the proper sacred space for formal monastic acts according to Buddhist discipline and shows the temple’s development as a complete community religious center.

 

The sermon hall plays an important role in everyday temple life. In rural Thai temples, a sermon hall is used for merit-making, listening to Dhamma teachings, local meetings, annual ceremonies, and communal activities. At Wat Yang Ong Nam, the sermon hall built in 1982 represents the continued participation of local people in maintaining the temple as a shared spiritual and social space.

 

The old viharn is one of the most interesting features of Wat Yang Ong Nam. Local heritage sources mention that the viharn has a distinctive traditional character. An inscription at the entrance records that Chao Athikan Khiao and a group of faithful supporters built the viharn in 1946. Although the structure is less than 100 years old, its atmosphere, local craftsmanship, and aged appearance give it strong cultural value.

 

The reference to Chao Athikan Khiao is also important because temple history records a long line of former abbots, including Phra In Ta, Phra Panya, Phra Wong, Phra Chi, Phra Chuen, Phra Chan, Phra Rat, Phra La, Phra Pia, Phra Chu, Phra Athikan Khiao, Phra Ai, and Phra Athikan Pun Thitasilo. These names show the continuity of monastic leadership and the role of monks in guiding the temple and community across generations.

 

Inside the temple are Buddha images of various sizes and postures. These sacred objects serve as focal points for worship, merit-making, and meditation. The variety of Buddha images reflects the faith of local people, as many such images in community temples are created, donated, or restored through the devotion of villagers over time.

 

Wat Yang Ong Nam is more than a religious building complex. It is a community center for Ban Yang Ong Nam and nearby villages. Religious activities such as annual merit-making, group chanting, offerings, and local ceremonies continue to keep the temple active. The temple brings together elders, families, children, monks, and villagers, allowing Buddhist values and local traditions to be passed from one generation to the next.

 

For cultural travelers, the temple offers a quiet look at rural Buddhist life in Tak Province. It is not a large commercial tourist attraction, and that is part of its value. Visitors can see a functioning village temple, old religious structures, a local viharn, Buddha images, and a riverside community atmosphere without the crowds of major tourist sites.

 

Wat Yang Ong Nam is also suitable for travelers interested in local architecture. The old viharn reflects village craftsmanship and the faith of ordinary people rather than royal or monumental architecture. Its value lies in its simplicity, age, and connection with local builders and supporters. Such structures help preserve the visual character of rural temples in western northern Thailand.

 

Getting There is most convenient by private car. From Tak town, travel toward Ban Tak District and continue to Mae Salid Subdistrict. The temple is located at Ban Yang Ong Nam, Moo 5. Since it is a local community temple rather than a major commercial attraction, visitors should check the route in advance and may contact Mae Salid Subdistrict Administrative Organization for local information.

 

The best time to visit is in the morning or late afternoon when the weather is more comfortable. Since the temple is located on lowland ground near a river, visitors traveling during the rainy season should pay attention to road and ground conditions. A visit of around 30 minutes to 1 hour is suitable for worship, quiet walking, and observing the temple buildings.

 

For photographers, interesting subjects include the old viharn, sermon hall, ordination hall, Buddha images, village-temple atmosphere, and the riverside setting. Photography should be done respectfully. Visitors should avoid disturbing monks, novices, or local people during religious activities and should not climb on or touch old structures unnecessarily.

 

Families can use the temple as a simple cultural learning stop. Children can learn that a temple is not only a place for worship, but also a place connected with village history, land records, river settlement, temple buildings, former abbots, and community activities. Visiting a real community temple makes local history easier to understand.

 

Senior travelers may find Wat Yang Ong Nam comfortable because it is located on flat ground and does not require climbing hills. The temple is suitable for a calm visit, merit-making, and quiet reflection. Visitors should still walk carefully around older structures and uneven areas.

 

Wat Yang Ong Nam can be combined with other places in Ban Tak District, such as Wat Yang Ong Bon, Wat Yang Ong San Klang, Wat Phra Borommathat Ban Tak, Bhumibol Dam, and the Petrified Wood National Park. This route connects old community temples, important district-level sacred sites, and natural attractions in Tak Province.

 

Overall, Wat Yang Ong Nam is a valuable old community temple in Ban Tak District. Its long history from around 1772, detailed temple land records, religious buildings, old viharn, Buddha images, and role as a local spiritual center make it a meaningful destination for visitors who want to understand Tak Province through village Buddhism, riverside settlement, and community heritage.

 

 

A: Wat Yang Ong Nam is located at No. 136, Ban Yang Ong Nam, Moo 5, Mae Salid Subdistrict, Ban Tak District, Tak Province.

 

A: The temple was established around 1772 and is one of the old community temples in Mae Salid Subdistrict.

 

A: Highlights include its long history, ordination hall, sermon hall, old viharn, Buddha images, and its role as a riverside community temple.

 

A: The old viharn reflects local craftsmanship, and an inscription states that Chao Athikan Khiao and faithful supporters built it in 1946.

 

A: The temple received its consecrated boundary on July 3, 1985, with a boundary area measuring 25 meters wide and 50 meters long.

 

A: From Tak town, travel toward Ban Tak District and continue to Mae Salid Subdistrict. The temple is located at Ban Yang Ong Nam, Moo 5, and is most convenient by private car or local transport.

 

A: Nearby places include Wat Yang Ong Bon, Wat Yang Ong San Klang, Wat Phra Borommathat Ban Tak, Bhumibol Dam, and Petrified Wood National Park.

 

A: Visitors should dress modestly, speak quietly, avoid disturbing monks or local worshippers, avoid entering private monastic areas without permission, and keep the temple clean.