Luang Pho Khao

Rating: 4.3/5 (4 votes)

Open Days: Daily

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

 

Luang Pho Khao, Wat Hong is an ancient Buddha image highly revered by Buddhists in Han Sang Subdistrict, Bang Pahan District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. Luang Pho Khao is enshrined within Wat Hong, a community temple located along Han Sang Canal, which has long served as an important spiritual center and focal point of local faith. Beyond being a place for religious ceremonies, the temple represents a spiritual space that connects devotion, daily life, and the shared memories of the community.

 

Luang Pho Khao is an old Buddha image that has undergone restoration in later periods to preserve its condition for continued worship. Despite these restorations, local residents firmly believe that the sacred power and spiritual presence of the image remain unchanged. This faith is not based on hearsay, but is deeply rooted in the lived experiences and practices of people in the area.

 

A scene that clearly reflects this belief can be observed when people drive past Wat Hong, where many sound their car horns as a gesture of respect and a way to ask for blessings from Luang Pho Khao. This act is not an official ritual, but rather a customary practice passed down within the community, illustrating how faith is naturally woven into everyday life.

 

Luang Pho Khao is also widely known for granting blessings through vows and prayers, particularly concerning travel safety, work, and family well-being. When wishes are fulfilled, devotees commonly return to offer items as acts of thanksgiving. The most distinctive and widely accepted offering is “pla krim khai tao,” a traditional Thai dessert closely associated with auspicious meanings and local belief systems.

 

Pla krim khai tao is not merely a traditional sweet, but also carries deep symbolic meaning within Thai belief traditions. The sweetness of coconut milk and syrup represents smoothness and fulfillment in life, while the dough that must be boiled until cooked symbolizes overcoming hardships before achieving success. These symbolic meanings make this dessert an appropriate and culturally accepted offering for fulfilling vows.

 

In the context of Luang Pho Khao at Wat Hong, the practice of offering pla krim khai tao was not formally prescribed, but instead emerged from collective experience among devotees who believe that preparing and offering this dessert reflects sincerity and gratitude. Making the dessert by hand, often together with family members, further enhances the emotional and spiritual significance of the vow-fulfillment ritual.

 

In the past, Wat Hong commissioned the creation of amulets in the form of Luang Pho Khao medallions for devotees to rent and venerate. These amulets gained notable popularity and continue to serve as spiritual anchors, reflecting the enduring bond between the temple, the sacred image, and the local community.

 

Getting There Wat Hong can be reached by following the road along Han Sang Canal in Han Sang Subdistrict, between Village No. 4 and Village No. 7, for a distance of approximately 1 kilometer. Along the right side of the canal, visitors will encounter three temples, and not far beyond them, a monastic retreat. Wat Hong is one of the temples located within this cluster.

 

 

A: It is best known for its sacred reputation and the practice of making vows and prayers.

 

A: This is a gesture of respect and a way to ask for blessings according to local belief.

 

A: Common wishes relate to travel safety, work, and family well-being.

 

A: Pla krim khai tao, a traditional Thai dessert.

 

A: Because it carries auspicious symbolic meanings and reflects sincere effort.

 

A: Wat Hong previously produced Luang Pho Khao amulets for devotees.

 

A: Visitors may come during the temple’s opening hours.