Wat Khian Khet (Royal Monastery)

Rating: 3.2/5 (10 votes)

Open Days: Open daily

Opening Hours: Generally accessible throughout the day

 

Wat Khian Khet (Royal Monastery), commonly known as Wat Khian, is an important historic temple in the Khlong Rangsit area. It is located along Khlong Rangsit Prayurasak in Bueng Yitho Subdistrict, Thanyaburi District, Pathum Thani Province, directly beside the Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok Road. The temple has a long history dating back to the reign of King Rama V and remains one of the major religious and historical landmarks of Thanyaburi today.

 

Wat Khian Khet was established in 1896 by Mom Khian, a consort of Prince Sai Sanitwongse, who donated the land for the temple. In its earliest stage, the site was only a small monastic residence. Luang Por Dam served as the head monk, and the buildings were made from simple local materials such as bamboo, with grass used for the roof and walls. Seeing the hardship faced by the monks and novices living there, Mom Khian, together with her relatives and local residents, donated funds to build six new Thai-style monk residences. The temple was then formally founded under the name “Wat Salikhetaram,” which means “the monastery that is a field of merit of rice.” The name reflected the location of the temple in the great Rangsit plain, once filled with rice fields and fertile agricultural land. Luang Por Dam became the first abbot of the temple.

 

In 1902, Mom Khian submitted a request for a royal boundary charter, and royal permission was granted on March 6, 1902. Later, in 1917, Somdet Phra Maha Samanachao Krom Phraya Wachirayanwarorot, the Supreme Patriarch, came to stay at the temple during an ecclesiastical inspection of Thanyaburi Province. At that time, Major M.R. Suwaphan Sanitwongse and General Chaophraya Wongsanupap, M.R. Sathan Sanitwongse, requested that the temple name be changed to better honor the person who had initiated its construction, namely Mom Khian, their mother. After considering her role in donating both her personal wealth and land for the creation of the temple, the Supreme Patriarch changed the name from “Wat Salikhetaram” to “Wat Khian Khet,” meaning “the monastery that is the field of merit of Mom Khian.”

 

Wat Khian Khet later became a temple of considerable historical importance for Thanyaburi District. During the period of absolute monarchy, the temple was used for the Phiphat Sattaya ceremony, an oath-taking ritual in which the governor of Thanyaburi brought government officials from Rangsit, Khlong, Nong Suea, and Lam Luk Ka districts to drink the oath water inside the ubosot of Wat Khian Khet. At that time, Phra Khru Thanyakhet Khemakon, also known as Luang Pu Chang, who was then the abbot, presided over the ceremony. This highlights the temple’s former role not only as a religious center but also as an important ceremonial site in the administrative history of the district.

 

Wat Khian Khet has long been regarded as an important temple because it was founded by the Sanitwongse family, who also continued to donate funds for restoration and maintenance. In later years, members of the royal family in the present reign also visited the temple to present Kathin robes. In 1972, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, together with Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Walailak, visited the temple to offer Kathin robes. In 1983, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn granted her royal initials “S.Dh.” to be installed on the front gable of the new ubosot. Also in 1983, Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali visited the temple to present Kathin robes personally. In 1987, she returned to preside over the raising of the chofa finial on the restored old ubosot.

 

The temple was later elevated to the status of a royal monastery. Phra Khru Si Thanyaphon, then the subdistrict ecclesiastical leader of Lam Phak Kut and the current abbot at that time, consulted with the Buddhist community, and all agreed to request that Wat Khian Khet be raised to the status of a royal monastery in honor of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who had graciously granted her royal initials for the new ubosot in celebration of her 36th birthday in 1991. The request was submitted to the royal court, and royal approval was granted for Wat Khian Khet to be elevated to a third-class royal monastery, common type, effective from October 11, 1991 onward.

 

Since its early days as Wat Salikhetaram and later as Wat Khian Khet Royal Monastery, the temple has had six abbots. The current abbot is Phra Dhammarattanaporn (Somsak Chotintharo), who also serves as an advisor to the ecclesiastical regional administration of Region 1. Under his leadership, the temple continues to function as a major center of religion, merit-making, and community life in Thanyaburi.

 

The atmosphere inside the temple is peaceful, shaded, and suitable for merit-making, paying respect to Buddha images, and quiet reflection. At the same time, the temple retains strong historical value connected to the development of Thanyaburi and the Rangsit canal system. For visitors interested in local history, royal connections, and old temples in Pathum Thani, Wat Khian Khet is one of the most meaningful temples to include in a travel route.

 

Getting There Wat Khian Khet is very easy to reach. Visitors can use the Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok Road heading toward the Khlong Ha area. The temple is located directly along the main road and beside Khlong Rangsit Prayurasak, making it convenient for private cars, public buses, and passenger vans traveling from Rangsit. Because of its roadside location, it is also easy to combine a visit to the temple with nearby attractions in Thanyaburi and the surrounding canal communities.

 

 

A: It is located in Bueng Yitho Subdistrict, Thanyaburi District, Pathum Thani Province, directly along the Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok Road.

 

A: The temple was established in 1896 during the reign of King Rama V.

 

A: Mom Khian donated the land and initiated the foundation of the temple.

 

A: Yes, it has been a third-class royal monastery since 1991.

 

A: It is closely connected to the history of Thanyaburi, the Sanitwongse family, royal visits, and important oath-taking ceremonies during the absolute monarchy period.

 

A: You can travel via the Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok Road. The temple is easy to reach by private car, bus, or passenger van from Rangsit.