Wat Thung Pong

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Operating day: Daily

Operating time: 08.00 - 17.00

 

Wat Thung Pong Lao Yao, Ban Hong, Lamphun. Wat Thung Pong, affiliated with the Maha Nikaya sect, occupies a land area of 5 rai, 3 ngan, and 47 square wah.

 

The temple's structures include an ordination hall (ubosot), a sermon hall (sala kanprian), monks' quarters (kuti), and a scripture repository (ho trai). The significant religious artifacts include a principal Buddha image made of plaster, a traditional Burmese-style archway, and a stupa reflecting Burmese art.

 

Wat Thung Pong was established in 1776 (B.E. 2319). It originated when Luang Pho Kham traveled from Wat Pa Siet to visit the local villagers. His teachings inspired great faith among the people, leading them to invite him to oversee the construction of a new temple. The temple was initially located on an abandoned site near the Li River, which had shifted its course and deposited sand in the area.

 

The temple’s location featured a large bodhi tree, and it was originally known as "Aram Sari Sai Mun." Later, the name was changed to Wat Thung Pong, reflecting the name of the village. The area was known for its salt-rich soil, which attracted cattle and buffalo, leaving the land riddled with small pits, a phenomenon referred to locally as "din pong."

 

Wat Thung Pong received its consecration boundary (Wisungkhama Sima) on March 26, 1870 (B.E. 2413). The first abbot was Phra Athikarn Kham, and the current abbot is Phra Athikarn Narongrit.

 

A notable figure in the temple's history is Khruba Chakkra Intachakko, who initiated the tradition of the "White Elephant Procession" (Hae Chang Kaeo) to pray for rain. This procession involves traveling from the mouth of the Li River to its source, a practice deeply rooted in local culture and spiritual belief.