Wat Bo Ngeon

Open Days: Open daily

Opening Hours: 08:00 – 16:30

 

Wat Bo Ngoen is a local Buddhist temple under the Maha Nikaya sect, located in Bo Ngoen Subdistrict, Lat Lum Kaeo District, Pathum Thani Province. It is one of the older temples in the district and has long been connected to the agricultural life of the local community. More than just a place for religious ceremonies, the temple reflects the history of settlement in the low-lying rice-growing landscape of Lat Lum Kaeo and the strong Buddhist faith of the people who helped build and sustain it over generations.

 

The temple was originally known by local villagers as “Wat Bot,” following the temple tradition associated with its founders. Some people later called it “Wat Lat” because the area was low, sloping, and flood-prone. Eventually, the name “Wat Bo Ngoen” became the most widely used. The meaning of this name is closely linked to the abundance of the surrounding farmland and the generosity of the Buddhist community that supported the temple. Since the land in this area was fertile and produced good rice harvests, the villagers were able to contribute steadily to the temple, giving rise to the name that suggests prosperity and wealth.

 

The land on which the temple was built originally belonged to Khun Wiset Phakdi, the district chief of Mueang Pathum Thani, together with his wife Nang Phuang and Nai Yom with his children. They jointly donated a plot measuring 2 sen wide and 25 sen long to Phra Khru Bowonthammakit, also known as Luang Pu Thian, the abbot of Wat Bot in Mueang Pathum Thani District. He then allowed Nai Rung and Nai Phut to farm the land free of rent, on the condition that they clear the forested ground. They were able to farm it for only two years, but the idea of establishing a local monastic residence in the area gradually took shape.

 

In 1911, Nai Phuean invited Phra Khru Bowonthammakit to perform a topknot-cutting ceremony in the old Khu Tan area. During that visit, it was suggested that the surrounding community was too far from existing temples and that a monastic residence in the area would greatly benefit local people. The villagers agreed and joined together to establish the temple. According to local history, important structures such as the sermon hall, monks’ quarters, and chanting hall were gradually built over time, showing how strong the community’s faith and cooperation were in turning the site into a functioning temple.

 

By 1913, two additional monk residences and a chanting hall with surrounding verandas had been built. In 1927, the temple constructed a four-room sermon hall with verandas and a tiled roof, complete with chofa finials. The temple also allocated part of its monastic land for a government school, and more land was later donated by Nang Kaeo for the benefit of the temple. These developments show that Wat Bo Ngoen was not only a religious center, but also an important base for education and community growth in the area.

 

The ordination hall measures 8 wa and 2 sok in length, with an interior width of 3 wa and 16 inches, and an exterior width of 4 wa. In 1947, the sacred boundary was formally consecrated with boundary stones, and the temple later received a renewed royal boundary charter on November 19, 1993. This confirmed its formal status for monastic ceremonies and underlined its continuing role as a complete and active Buddhist temple.

 

One of the most distinctive features of Wat Bo Ngoen is its annual merit event, which combines the offering of alms to one hundred monks with a gilding ceremony for Buddha images on the same day. This annual event takes place on the waning sixth day of the eleventh lunar month and remains an important expression of local devotion. It brings the community together, reinforces ties between the temple and local residents, and helps preserve long-standing religious traditions in the district.

 

Although Wat Bo Ngoen may not be known for monumental architecture in the same way as larger city temples, its charm lies in its identity as an old community temple in a fertile agricultural lowland. Visiting the temple gives travelers a chance to experience a more grounded and local side of Pathum Thani, where the story of the temple is deeply tied to everyday rural life, rice farming, and the effort of ordinary villagers to build and sustain a place of worship.

 

Today, Wat Bo Ngoen remains active and continues to serve as the religious center of the Bo Ngoen community. Public information from temple-related sources consistently identifies Phra Khru Rattanaphattharakhun (Suraphon Atiphattho) as the current abbot. The temple still hosts regular merit-making activities and remains an important place for both spiritual practice and community gathering.

 

For travelers planning a cultural route in Pathum Thani, Wat Bo Ngoen can be combined easily with nearby places such as Wat Chedi Hoi, Wat Lam Maha Mek, Talad Ra-Haeng 100 Years, and other local attractions in Lat Lum Kaeo and Sam Khok. This makes it suitable for a half-day or full-day trip focused on local temples, markets, and quiet rural scenery.

 

Getting There The easiest way to reach Wat Bo Ngoen is by private car. Visitors can travel into Lat Lum Kaeo District and continue toward Bo Ngoen Subdistrict. The temple is located within the community and is relatively easy to access. Public transport users can first arrive in the Lat Lum Kaeo area and continue by local transport to the temple.

 

 

A: The temple is located in Bo Ngoen Subdistrict, Lat Lum Kaeo District, Pathum Thani Province.

 

A: Local people originally called it Wat Bot, and at one time some also called it Wat Lat before the name Wat Bo Ngoen became established.

 

A: It is the combined ceremony of offering alms to one hundred monks and gilding Buddha images, held on the waning sixth day of the eleventh lunar month each year.

 

A: Yes, it is open daily, with commonly listed visitor hours of 08:00 to 16:30.

 

A: The current abbot is Phra Khru Rattanaphattharakhun (Suraphon Atiphattho).

 

A: The most convenient way is by private car, traveling into Lat Lum Kaeo District and then continuing to Bo Ngoen Subdistrict.