Wat Plap Sutthawat

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: Open for worship during business hours

 

Wat Phlap Sutthawat is a local Buddhist temple under the Dhammayut order, located in Chiang Rak Noi Subdistrict, Sam Khok District, Pathum Thani Province. This is one of the older Mon-influenced temples in the Sam Khok area and is especially appealing to travelers interested in historic local temples, Mon cultural identity, sacred Buddha images, and a quieter side of Pathum Thani beyond the more familiar tourist circuit.

 

The temple’s strongest appeal comes from its combination of age, local religious importance, and preserved Mon architectural details. Visitors will find an atmosphere that feels rooted in community history rather than mass tourism. Wat Phlap Sutthawat is therefore well suited to those who want a slower, more meaningful temple visit focused on heritage and devotional life.

 

The exact original founding date of the temple is not clearly known, but the Department of Religious Affairs records the temple as having been established in 1820. It later became associated with the Mon community that settled in this area. The temple was initiated through the efforts of Luang Naraphai Phithak, a former district chief, together with a man named Khong, who helped begin the construction and contributed financially. The temple land, covering 11 rai, 3 ngan, and 78 square wah, was donated by Wen Kaokliang and Yon Kaokliang.

 

Wat Phlap Sutthawat received its royal boundary on 19 December 1924. Local residents commonly refer to the temple simply as “Wat Phlap,” which reflects the close relationship between the temple and the surrounding community. It has long functioned not only as a religious site, but also as a local center of spiritual continuity and cultural identity.

 

One of the temple’s most notable architectural features is its ordination hall built with Mon bricks, a detail that immediately gives the temple a distinctive character. Another major highlight is the twelve-cornered Mon chedi, which is more than a century old. It stands on a lion base, while the upper stupa section is shaped like a nine-layer lotus form. These details give the temple a strong visual identity and make it particularly interesting for visitors who appreciate regional temple architecture.

 

The temple also includes a Mon-style prayer hall, a sermon hall, a bell tower, and teak pillars carved with Mon script. In front of the ordination hall stands a hongsa pole, another important symbol of Mon Buddhist culture. These features make Wat Phlap Sutthawat especially valuable for travelers interested in how Mon heritage survives in the temple landscape of central Thailand.

 

The temple’s most important sacred object is Luang Pho Ngern, a revered Ayutthaya-period Buddha image. In the past, the image had been covered with plaster. The backdrop enclosing the sacred image is made of teak wood, carved with traditional Thai scroll motifs and decorated with glass. The temple also preserves an old water filtration device and a sermon seat known as a thammat yot nang chi, adding further historical depth to the temple compound.

 

Wat Phlap Sutthawat is especially rewarding for travelers who want to combine religious devotion with cultural learning. Its calm atmosphere, older structures, and sacred objects create a setting that feels intimate and historically layered. Rather than functioning as a showpiece temple, it remains a living place of worship where local faith continues in everyday practice.

 

For trip planning, the temple can easily be combined with other important temple visits in Sam Khok and Pathum Thani, including Wat Chankapho, Wat Tamnak, Wat Bang Na, and Wat Thai Ko Yai. This makes it a strong stop for a one-day cultural route from Bangkok centered on old riverside temples and Mon heritage.

 

Getting There is easiest by private car from Bangkok via the Pathum Thani–Sam Khok route, continuing into Chiang Rak Noi Subdistrict. The temple is located along Highway 3309 in Sam Khok District. A navigation app is recommended for the most convenient approach, especially if you plan to continue on to multiple temples in the same day.

 

Visitors interested in old sacred architecture should allow enough time to walk around the Mon chedi, the prayer hall, the ordination hall, and the Luang Pho Ngern area. The temple offers a rewarding mix of history, faith, and local atmosphere, making it one of the more meaningful temple visits in Pathum Thani for those seeking a deeper cultural experience.

 

 

A: It is located in Chiang Rak Noi Subdistrict, Sam Khok District, Pathum Thani Province, along Highway 3309.

 

A: It is best known for its century-old Mon chedi, Luang Pho Ngern, Mon-style prayer hall, hongsa pole, and carved Mon-script pillars.

 

A: Yes. Wat Phlap Sutthawat is closely associated with the Mon community of the area and preserves several Mon architectural and cultural features.

 

A: Luang Pho Ngern is the temple’s revered sacred Buddha image from the Ayutthaya period.

 

A: Yes. It can be combined easily with other temples and cultural stops in Sam Khok and Pathum Thani.

 

A: No. Admission is free.