Wat Doi Pa Tan

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.00 – 17.00

 

Wat Doi Pa Tan is located at 33 Moo 8, Ban Lao Makok, Thoen Buri Subdistrict, Thoen District, Lampang Province 52160. This historic Buddhist temple belongs to the Mahanikaya sect and covers approximately 111 rai. It is one of the most sacred and culturally important temples in Thoen District, known for Phra That Chao Mon Wua Non, its Lanna-Burmese-style viharn, sacred well, naga staircase, old scripture hall, and the local legend of the Bodhisattva as a great bull.

 

The temple was officially established in 1721 and was formerly known as Wat Thon Wua Non or Wat Mon Wua Non. Its old name is connected to the local legend of a sacred hill where a divine bull once rested. Because of this legend, Wat Doi Pa Tan is not only a Buddhist temple but also a deeply meaningful spiritual site that reflects the beliefs, history, and identity of the people of Thoen.

 

According to local tradition, in one of the Bodhisattva’s past lives, he was born as a great bull called Usabharaja. He traveled through the forest west of the Wang River, an area once filled with wild animals. The legend also tells of three giant guardians who protected treasures of crystal, silver, and gold. When the mother cow rested on this hill, the place came to be known as Mon Wua Non, meaning the hill where the bull lay down.

 

Later, holy monks came to practice meditation and restore the sacred site. Over time, Buddhist devotees came to regard the hill as a holy place suitable for worship, merit-making, and meditation. Wat Doi Pa Tan therefore became both a religious center and a spiritual destination for those seeking peace and blessings.

 

Wat Doi Pa Tan is also closely associated with Khruba Siwichai, the revered Lanna monk. The viharn was built in 1926 by Khruba Siwichai and his disciples. It measures 12 meters wide and 22 meters long and features a Thai Lanna architectural style mixed with Burmese influence. The roof is covered with traditional clay tiles, while the front section contains beautifully carved decorative columns. Around the viharn are surrounding pavilions on three sides, each about 3 meters wide and 40 meters long.

 

The viharn is one of the important historical structures of Thoen District. Its carved details, structure, and Lanna-Burmese style reflect the devotion of local people and the craftsmanship of the early 20th century. Visitors should take time to observe the viharn carefully, as its value lies in the fine details of traditional Buddhist architecture.

 

Another remarkable feature is the sacred well located in the temple courtyard. The well is round, made of cement, about 1.50 meters wide and 14 meters deep. It was dug in 1935 and is regarded as a Lanna-style sacred object. What makes the well special is that although it is located on a hilltop, it contains water throughout the year and does not dry up. Local people therefore call it a sacred well or divine water well.

 

Devotees often draw water from the well, pray, and use it as blessed water according to local belief. The sacred well reflects the relationship between nature, landscape, and Buddhist faith. For many people in Thoen, it is one of the most meaningful features of Wat Doi Pa Tan.

 

The naga staircase is another significant structure. It is a steep stucco staircase about 90 meters long and 2.80 meters wide, with 50 steps. Built during the time of Khruba Siwichai around 1943, it is an example of traditional Lanna-style religious architecture. The staircase is not merely a path; it is a symbolic route of faith leading visitors upward to the sacred relic site.

 

On major Buddhist holy days, local people walk up the naga staircase to pay homage to Phra That Chao Mon Wua Non. The steep climb represents effort, devotion, and spiritual determination. Reaching the top gives worshippers a sense of achievement and connection to the sacred hill.

 

The old scripture hall, or ho trai, is also an important cultural structure. It was built in 1938 by Khruba Kham Ho Chaiwong and was used to preserve palm-leaf manuscripts and Buddhist scriptures. The building is partly masonry and partly wooden, measuring about 4.60 meters wide and 9 meters long. Later restoration work preserved the original lower masonry section and carved wooden gable while replacing parts of the roof and wooden elements.

 

In Lanna temples, the scripture hall is a symbol of the preservation of Buddhist teachings. It is more than a storage building; it represents learning, wisdom, and the continuation of the Dhamma. The presence of an old ho trai at Wat Doi Pa Tan shows the temple’s past role as a place of religious knowledge.

 

Phra That Chao Mon Wua Non is the most sacred monument of Wat Doi Pa Tan. Located west of Thoen District, it is highly respected by local people and devotees from nearby provinces. According to legend, after attaining Buddhahood, the Buddha remembered a past life when he had been born as a bull and lived on this hill. He then came with Ananda and his disciples to enshrine strands of his hair at the site.

 

The legend says that the Buddha gave three strands of hair to Ananda. The people of Yothiya and the three giant guardians saw the radiance of the hair relics in different colors, including red, gray, green, and yellow. Ananda enshrined the relics in a casket, while others placed them in bamboo, gold, silver, and crystal containers. This story became the spiritual foundation of Phra That Chao Mon Wua Non.

 

The Buddha also predicted that this place would one day become a town, and that people there would often disagree when building things because they saw the colors of the relics differently. Only when monks gave judgment would people accept the decision. This legend reflects the way Buddhist belief and local folklore are deeply intertwined in the identity of Thoen.

 

The most important annual tradition at the temple is the celebration of Phra That Chao Mon Wua Non, held on the full moon of the northern eighth lunar month each year. Local residents and Buddhist devotees come to make merit, listen to sermons, and pay homage to the sacred relic monument. This annual event strengthens the bond between the temple, the community, and local faith.

 

Wat Doi Pa Tan is therefore a temple with many layers of meaning. It has history, architecture, legend, sacred water, a relic monument, and a living annual tradition. Visitors can explore the viharn, sacred well, naga staircase, ho trai, and Phra That Chao Mon Wua Non while enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of a hilltop temple in southern Lampang.

 

Getting There is most convenient by private car. From Thoen District Office, travel toward Ban Lao Makok in Thoen Buri Subdistrict for about 5 kilometers. The route leads up to the hill area of the temple, so drivers should proceed carefully, especially during or after rain. Visitors who wish to climb the naga staircase should wear suitable footwear and take their time.

 

Visitors should dress respectfully, keep quiet, and avoid touching old structures unnecessarily. Since Wat Doi Pa Tan remains an active place of worship and a sacred site for the people of Thoen, all visits should be made with respect, especially around the relic monument, sacred well, viharn, and scripture hall.

 

Overall, Wat Doi Pa Tan is one of the most important temples in Thoen District, Lampang Province. With its long history since 1721, connection to Khruba Siwichai, Lanna-Burmese viharn, sacred well, naga staircase, ho trai, and Phra That Chao Mon Wua Non, the temple is ideal for Buddhist visitors, cultural travelers, history enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a meaningful spiritual experience in southern Lampang.

 

 

A: Wat Doi Pa Tan is located at 33 Moo 8, Ban Lao Makok, Thoen Buri Subdistrict, Thoen District, Lampang Province.

 

A: It is a sacred temple of Thoen, known for Phra That Chao Mon Wua Non, the viharn built by Khruba Siwichai, the sacred well, the naga staircase, and the legend of Usabharaja the bull.

 

A: It is the main sacred relic monument of Wat Doi Pa Tan, connected to the legend of the Buddha’s hair relics and the Buddha’s past life as a great bull.

 

A: The annual celebration of Phra That Chao Mon Wua Non is held on the full moon of the northern eighth lunar month.

 

A: It is suitable for Buddhist visitors, cultural travelers, Lanna history enthusiasts, and those interested in sacred hilltop temples in Lampang.

 

A: Nearby places include Thoen Market, Wat Wiang, Wat Um Long, Wat Tham Suk Kasem Sawan, and Mae Wa National Park.