Wat Chedi Hoi

Open Days: Open daily

Opening Hours: 08:00 – 16:30

 

Wat Chedi Hoi is a local Buddhist temple under the Maha Nikaya sect, located in Moo 4, Ban Khlong Bang Luang, Bo Ngoen Subdistrict, Lat Lum Kaeo District, Pathum Thani Province. The temple is one of the most unusual religious attractions in central Thailand because it is famous for its shell pagodas built from giant ancient oyster fossils that were discovered beneath the ground. This remarkable feature gives the temple a distinct identity and has made it one of Pathum Thani’s best-known cultural destinations.

 

The origin of the temple is closely connected with Phra Khru Sunthonkhunthada, widely known as Luang Por Thong Klueng Suntharo. Before founding the temple, he went on pilgrimage in Myanmar and spent one Buddhist Lent studying with Phra Ajarn Silabanta. After returning to Thailand and staying at Tham Ong Chuk in Si Sawat District, Kanchanaburi Province, he had a vision that the current site of Wat Chedi Hoi had once been a large ancient city called Rattanawadi about 8 million years ago. He later followed that vision to the present-day location, where his father purchased land andถวาย it for the establishment of a monastic residence.

 

At first, the area was only a small monastic retreat with a simple hut built to welcome laypeople who came to make merit. The temple was officially established on December 20, 1988. Later, a large number of giant ancient oyster shells were excavated from the ground. Luang Por Thong Klueng used these fossil shells to build pagodas at the front entrance and throughout the temple grounds. The shell pagoda construction began in 1995, and this became the direct origin of the name “Wat Chedi Hoi,” which literally means “Temple of the Shell Chedi.”

 

What makes Wat Chedi Hoi so memorable is that the shell pagodas are not merely decorative structures. The fossil shells are physical traces of an ancient natural environment and give the temple an unusual connection to geological history. As a result, Wat Chedi Hoi offers more than a conventional temple visit. It combines Buddhist faith, local belief, natural history, and visual uniqueness in a way that few other temples in Thailand can match.

 

Inside the ubosot, the principal Buddha image is Luang Por Phra Phutthanimit Rattanachana Mar, more commonly known as Luang Por Chana Mar. This sacred image is highly respected by devotees who visit the temple to pray for blessings and good fortune. The temple also houses a museum that displays a large collection of Buddha images, art objects, antiquities, and old household items. Among the most notable objects are a giant tridacna shell brought by Luang Por Thong Klueng from Ranong Province, traditional Sam Khok jars, pottery, carved wood, old calculators, and many other historical items.

 

The overall atmosphere of Wat Chedi Hoi is spacious and striking from the moment visitors arrive. The shell chedis immediately stand out at the entrance, while the interior of the temple grounds offers a combination of sacred spaces, display areas, and places for quiet reflection. This makes the temple suitable for Buddhist visitors, families, and travelers interested in unusual cultural attractions. Many people who come here remember it not only as a place of worship, but also as one of the most distinctive landmarks in Pathum Thani.

 

For travelers exploring Pathum Thani, Wat Chedi Hoi is an excellent destination for cultural tourism and educational travel. Visitors can make merit, pay respect to the principal Buddha image, explore the fossil shell pagodas, and visit the museum in a single trip. The location also allows easy connections to nearby attractions in Lat Lum Kaeo, Sam Khok, and central Pathum Thani, making it practical for a half-day or full-day itinerary.

 

Getting There The most convenient way to visit Wat Chedi Hoi is by private car. Travelers from Bangkok can use the Pathum Thani-Lat Lum Kaeo route or connect from the Rangsit and Pathum Thani areas toward Lat Lum Kaeo, then continue into Bo Ngoen Subdistrict and the Wat Chedi Hoi access road. Parking is available within the temple area. Public transport users can travel into Lat Lum Kaeo and continue by local transport to the temple.

 

 

A: The temple is located in Moo 4, Ban Khlong Bang Luang, Bo Ngoen Subdistrict, Lat Lum Kaeo District, Pathum Thani Province.

 

A: It is best known for its shell pagodas built from giant ancient oyster fossils that were found beneath the ground.

 

A: No, there is no entrance fee.

 

A: Visitors can see the shell pagodas, the ubosot, Luang Por Chana Mar, and a museum with Buddha images, art objects, antiquities, and old household items.

 

A: Yes, the temple is open daily, with visitor hours commonly listed as 08:00 to 16:30.

 

A: The easiest way is by private car using the Pathum Thani-Lat Lum Kaeo route and then turning into the Wat Chedi Hoi access road.