Chao Mae Pho Sao Han Shrine

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Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08:00 – 17:00 (approximately)

 

Chao Mae Pho Sao Han Shrine, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, is a historical and belief-based attraction of great significance in the Ayutthaya area. The shrine is located within Wat Pho Sao Han, Village No. 3, and was established as a memorial to honor the courage of the villagers of Pho Sao Han, who united to assist King Taksin the Great during battles against the Burmese forces at Thung Pho Sao Han.

 

In the past, the area surrounding Wat Pho Sao Han and Thung Pho Sao Han was an open landscape characterized by rice fields and small forested areas. Such terrain was suitable for troop movement and concealment during times of warfare. This geographical setting gave the area strategic importance during the late Ayutthaya period, particularly when the kingdom was facing severe crises.

 

According to local historical accounts passed down through generations, when King Taksin the Great was gathering forces to restore national independence, the villagers of Pho Sao Han provided assistance in the form of supplies, food, and guidance. Although these acts of support by ordinary villagers were not formally recorded in official royal chronicles, they remain deeply embedded in the collective memory of the local community.

 

For this reason, Chao Mae Pho Sao Han Shrine was established to commemorate the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering loyalty to the land demonstrated by the ancestors of the community. The construction of the shrine was not merely the creation of a physical structure, but rather the establishment of a shared space of remembrance intended to endure across generations.

 

Chao Mae Pho Sao Han is revered as a guardian spirit of the area and the community. Devotees believe that the spirit offers protection, strength, and courage, reflecting the same qualities shown by the ancestors in the past. This belief has transformed the shrine into a spiritual center for both local residents and visitors.

 

Worship at Chao Mae Pho Sao Han Shrine is typically simple and sincere. Visitors focus their prayers on safety, inner strength in daily life, and harmony within their families. Ritual practices are not fixed or rigid, but instead reflect personal devotion that has been passed down through local tradition.

 

The shrine is located within the grounds of Wat Pho Sao Han, creating a harmonious blend of Buddhist practice and local spiritual belief. Together, the temple and the shrine function as complementary centers of spiritual life for the surrounding community.

 

From a cultural perspective, Chao Mae Pho Sao Han Shrine represents history as seen through the eyes of ordinary villagers. It stands as evidence of the courage and participation of common people in significant national events—stories that often do not appear in mainstream historical narratives.

 

Getting There Chao Mae Pho Sao Han Shrine at Wat Pho Sao Han, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, can be reached by private car from Bangkok. Visitors can take the main routes toward Ayutthaya city and then continue to the temple’s location. The journey typically takes around 1.5 hours, depending on traffic conditions.

 

 

A: It was established to commemorate the courage and heroic actions of the villagers of Pho Sao Han.

 

A: The area is remembered as a place where villagers assisted King Taksin during battles against the Burmese forces.

 

A: Visitors commonly pray for safety, inner strength, and harmony in life.

 

A: Yes, the shrine is open daily during its regular opening hours.