Wat Pa Thewi Tham

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 07.00 – 18.00

 

Wat Pa Thewi Tham, also known as Wat Khao Dueai Kai or Wat Thep Thawi Tham, is a peaceful forest temple in Amnat Charoen Province, northeastern Thailand. Located in Ban Ang Yai, Bung Subdistrict, Mueang Amnat Charoen District, the temple sits north of the provincial town and is known for its spacious forested grounds, Buddhist monuments, meditation atmosphere, and the legacy of Luang Ta Thawi Chitasawaro, the pioneering monk closely associated with the development of this sacred site.

 

For foreign travelers looking for a quiet Buddhist temple in Amnat Charoen, Wat Pa Thewi Tham offers a very different experience from the more crowded temple attractions found in major tourist cities. The temple is not designed as a commercial sightseeing spot. Its value lies in its calm forest setting, religious history, community devotion, and the sense of simplicity that reflects the spirit of a Thai forest monastery. Visitors can walk through the temple grounds, pay respect to sacred monuments, read Buddhist teachings, and experience a slower side of local Isan culture.

 

The temple was established in 1969 by Phra Ajarn Thawi Tissawaro together with local lay supporters. The construction was also supported by Nai Chang Chan Khamwan, an irrigation craftsman, and Buddhist communities from Ban Ang Yai, Ban Bung, Don Daeng, Don Wai, Lao Phruan, and Khok Sawang. This background shows that the temple grew from the collective faith of monks, craftsmen, and local villagers who wanted to create a Buddhist sanctuary for worship, moral learning, and community life.

 

Historically, the temple is closely connected to Luang Ta Thawi Chitasawaro, the first abbot and pioneering figure of Wat Khao Dueai Kai. Originally from Roi Et Province, Luang Ta Thawi became a monk and traveled widely on tudong, the traditional forest-monk pilgrimage practice. During his journey through northeastern Thailand, he stayed at Khao Dueai Kai. He later crossed the Mekong River to Laos to spread Buddhist teachings, spent one Buddhist Lent there, and returned to Thailand with a strong spiritual vision that Khao Dueai Kai should become a place for Buddhist ceremonies and spiritual practice.

 

In 1972, Luang Ta Thawi returned to Khao Dueai Kai and began developing the site into a Buddhist religious compound. He built several sacred and symbolic structures to serve as spiritual anchors for local Buddhists, including a replica of Bodh Gaya, a replica of Phra That Phanom, and a replica of Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall. These features make Wat Pa Thewi Tham distinctive because it combines Buddhist symbolism, local devotion, and unusual architectural elements within a forest temple environment.

 

The temple covers about 90 rai and is filled with a wide variety of trees, including valuable Siamese rosewood. This large forested area gives the temple a cool and shaded atmosphere, especially in the morning and late afternoon. The landscape is one of the temple’s strongest qualities. It allows visitors to walk slowly, observe nature, and feel the calmness that is central to the forest-temple tradition in Thailand. Unlike temples that focus mainly on ornate buildings, Wat Pa Thewi Tham uses nature as part of its spiritual identity.

 

Among the important areas within the temple are the Bodh Gaya replica, the Phra That Phanom replica, the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall replica, the wall of Buddhist teachings by Luang Ta Thawi Chitasawaro, forested walking areas, worship spaces, and Thap Than Thong Waterfall. These different zones create a layered experience for visitors. The Bodh Gaya replica recalls the place of the Buddha’s enlightenment, the Phra That Phanom replica reflects deep Isan Buddhist devotion, and the teaching wall invites visitors to pause and reflect on Buddhist truth and moral conduct.

 

One of the most meaningful features of the temple is the wall inscribed with the teachings of Luang Ta Thawi Chitasawaro. The teachings focus on six aspects of truth in Buddhist discipline: truthful speech, conventional truth, natural truth, ultimate truth, noble truth, and nirvana truth. These teachings encourage visitors to reflect on honesty, impermanence, suffering, non-self, and the path toward liberation. For many Thai visitors, reading these words is not simply an act of sightseeing, but a moment of moral reflection.

 

Wat Pa Thewi Tham is currently associated with Phra Athikan Wiset Kovito, the abbot of Wat Thep Thawi Tham or Wat Khao Dueai Kai. The temple belongs to the Mahanikaya order and remains an active Buddhist site with monks, novices, and lay caretakers helping maintain the grounds. Because this is a living religious place, visitors should behave respectfully, dress modestly, speak quietly, and avoid disturbing monks or people who come for worship and practice.

 

The natural setting is another reason to visit. The temple grounds are covered with many types of trees and are especially known for Siamese rosewood growing throughout the area. The forest atmosphere makes the site feel peaceful and shaded, while the presence of natural areas and Thap Than Thong Waterfall adds another dimension to the visit. Travelers who enjoy slow travel, spiritual places, and nature-based temple experiences will find the temple especially rewarding.

 

Getting There is convenient from Mueang Amnat Charoen. The temple is located north of the town in Bung Subdistrict, near Ban Ang Yai. Visitors can travel by private car, rental car, or local hired transport. Searching for Wat Khao Dueai Kai or Wat Thep Thawi Tham in a navigation app is the easiest way to reach the site. The temple can be visited as a half-day trip and can also be combined with nearby attractions in Mueang Amnat Charoen.

 

The best time to visit is in the morning or late afternoon when the weather is more comfortable for walking around the spacious grounds. Visitors who plan to explore the temple slowly should wear comfortable shoes and bring drinking water. Since the temple has forested areas and religious spaces, it is best to avoid loud noise, littering, climbing on structures, or entering restricted monastic areas.

 

Wat Pa Thewi Tham is a valuable cultural and spiritual destination for anyone who wants to understand Amnat Charoen beyond its town center. It tells the story of a monk’s pilgrimage, local Buddhist faith, community cooperation, forest conservation, and the continuing role of temples in rural northeastern Thailand. For travelers interested in Thai Buddhism, local heritage, meditation culture, and quiet temple landscapes, Wat Pa Thewi Tham is a meaningful place to include in an Amnat Charoen itinerary.

 

 

A: It is located in Ban Ang Yai, Bung Subdistrict, Mueang Amnat Charoen District, Amnat Charoen Province, north of the provincial town.

 

A: The temple was established in 1969 by Phra Ajarn Thawi Tissawaro and local Buddhist supporters.

 

A: It is known for its 90-rai forest setting, Bodh Gaya replica, Phra That Phanom replica, Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall replica, teaching wall, and peaceful natural atmosphere.

 

A: The abbot is Phra Athikan Wiset Kovito.

 

A: The temple is open daily from 07.00 to 18.00.

 

A: It is suitable for travelers interested in Buddhist temples, forest monasteries, local history, quiet nature, and cultural travel in northeastern Thailand.

 

A: Nearby attractions include Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang Buddhist Park, Amnat Charoen Clock Tower, Ming Mueang Chaloem Phra Kiat Park, Huai Si Tho Reservoir, and Wat Tham Saeng Phet.

 

A: Visitors should dress modestly, wear comfortable walking shoes, bring drinking water, and keep quiet because the temple is a religious and contemplative place.