Wat U Khao

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: It Is Best To Contact The Temple Before Visiting

 

Wat U Khao is a local Buddhist temple in Khlong Chet Subdistrict, Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani. It is significant not only as an old community temple, but also as a long-standing center of faith for people in the Khlong 7 area. Although it is not a monumental temple or a major mass-tourism site, its appeal lies in its genuine local character. Visitors who come here often do so not only to make merit, but also because of long community ties, family familiarity, and ongoing devotion connected to the temple’s history.

 

Wat U Khao was established in 1910 when Nai Chan and Nang Im donated land and led the founding of the temple. In its early years, local people referred to it as “Wat U Khao,” and over time the pronunciation shifted into the form “Wat U Khao” that is still used today. This small evolution in the temple’s name reflects the way local language and oral tradition often shape place names in Thai communities.

 

The temple’s formal religious status developed steadily over time. It first received its royal ordination boundary on 4 August 1922, with an initial boundary area measuring 80 meters by 120 meters, and the consecration ceremony followed in 1927. Later, after a new ordination hall was built, the temple applied for a new royal boundary on 30 April 2008, with dimensions of 22 meters by 40 meters. Another consecration ceremony was carried out on 5 January 2003. These details show how the temple gradually grew from a local village temple into a more fully developed religious center.

 

One of the strongest signs of Wat U Khao’s importance to the community is its relationship with local education. The temple set aside 5 rai of land for the government to build a primary school, teachers’ housing, a cafeteria, and a sports ground. This became Wat U Khao School, which remains an important part of the temple’s broader social role. It is a clear example of the traditional Thai relationship between home, temple, and school, where the temple supports both spiritual life and practical community development.

 

Because of this, Wat U Khao is more than an old temple. It is also part of the social memory of Khlong 7. The temple and the school together preserve an older pattern of Thai community life in which religion, education, and local identity remain closely connected.

 

The main structures inside the temple include the ordination hall, nine monk residences, a chanting hall, and cremation facilities. Most of the monk residences are wooden buildings, which helps preserve the simple atmosphere of a traditional community temple. The ordination hall remains the spiritual center of the temple, and it is the first place many visitors enter when they come to pay respect.

 

The principal Buddha image in the ordination hall has a lap width of 49 inches. The temple also enshrines Luang Pho To๊ะ, a Buddha image with a lap width of 26 inches that was created by Second Lieutenant To๊ะ Rattanadecha in 1930 and presented to the temple. This image is one of the temple’s best-known sacred objects and is especially important to worshippers in the Khlong 7 area and nearby communities.

 

Luang Pho To๊ะ gives Wat U Khao a distinctive identity. In many Thai community temples, what people remember most is not always a building or a date, but a sacred image closely tied to local stories and devotion. Wat U Khao follows this pattern. For many local visitors, the temple is strongly associated with Luang Pho To๊ะ and with the atmosphere of community temple fairs and local religious gatherings.

 

The overall atmosphere of the temple is simple, open, and practical. It is clearly a working community temple rather than a place redesigned mainly for tourism. This makes it especially appealing to visitors who enjoy quieter temple visits and who want to experience a more authentic local religious setting.

 

Another important point is that Wat U Khao remains active today. Recent public activity in 2024 and 2025 shows that the temple continues to host community events and annual temple activities. This confirms that Wat U Khao is not just a historic site, but still plays a living role in the everyday religious life of the area.

 

Current public sources identify Phra Khru Pathum Suphakij (Sali Attasubho) as the abbot of Wat U Khao. This supports the view that the temple remains active under regular monastic administration and continues to function normally as a local Buddhist center.

 

From a travel perspective, Wat U Khao is best suited to visitors who want a quiet temple stop in the Khlong 7 area rather than a heavily commercialized attraction. Its strength lies in simplicity, age, local identity, and the continuing bond between the temple and its community. This is the kind of temple that rewards slow observation rather than hurried sightseeing.

 

The temple can also be included in a wider Khlong Luang and Khlong 7 route. Nearby places include Ama 1000 Suk Market, Wat Prachum Rat, Wat Panyanantaram, the National Geological Museum, and Talaad Thai. This makes it possible to combine a temple visit with local food, shopping, and other cultural or educational stops in the same day.

 

Getting There is easiest by private car. Wat U Khao is located in Moo 8, Khlong Chet, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, along the Po To 3008 rural road near Wat U Khao School. Searching for “Wat U Khao Khlong 7 Pathum Thani” in a navigation app is usually the most practical method. Visitors using public transport should first travel into the Khlong Luang or Khlong 7 area, then continue by local hired transport.

 

The best time to visit is in the morning or late morning, when the weather is more comfortable and the temple atmosphere is especially peaceful. During the annual fair period, the temple becomes much livelier and gives a different impression as a true community gathering place.

 

Visitors should dress modestly and behave respectfully, especially when entering the ordination hall. Since the temple still functions closely with the local community and school, a calm and respectful visit helps preserve the atmosphere that makes the temple meaningful in the first place.

 

In summary, Wat U Khao is a valuable community temple in Khlong 7 with a long local history, strong ties to education, and an important sacred image in Luang Pho To๊ะ. It may not be a large tourist landmark, but it offers something more personal: a clear sense of continuity between temple, school, and community life. For visitors seeking a quiet and authentic temple in Pathum Thani, Wat U Khao is well worth a stop.

 

 

A: Wat U Khao is in Moo 8, Khlong Chet Subdistrict, Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani, in the Khlong 7 area.

 

A: Wat U Khao was founded in 1910 by Nai Chan and Nang Im, who donated the land and established the temple.

 

A: The temple was originally called “Wat U Khao,” and the pronunciation gradually shifted into the name used today.

 

A: Its main highlights are the ordination hall, the principal Buddha image, Luang Pho To๊ะ, and its strong connection to Wat U Khao School and the Khlong 7 community.

 

A: Yes. Wat U Khao remains active and continues to host religious and community events.

 

A: Current public sources identify Phra Khru Pathum Suphakij (Sali Attasubho) as the abbot.

 

A: It is best for a quiet local temple visit, merit-making, and experiencing the atmosphere of a long-established community temple in Pathum Thani.