Wat Mahathat Chedi Si Wiang Chai

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: Open as a Buddhist site for worship and visits

 

Wat Phra Mahathat Chedi Si Wiang Chai is a major Buddhist landmark in Moo 9, Ban Nong Pu or Ban Huai Tom, Na Sai Subdistrict, Li District, Lamphun Province. Located near Wat Phra Phutthabat Huai Tom, it is one of the most impressive faith-based attractions in Li District. The chedi is widely recognized for its grand golden form, Shwedagon-inspired silhouette, Lanna Buddhist style and full laterite structure.

 

The chedi has a square base measuring 40 x 40 meters, equal to about 1 rai, and rises 64.39 meters from the base to the upper finial. Its scale, golden surface and laterite construction make it one of the most distinctive religious monuments in Lamphun. Visitors can see the chedi from a distance as they approach the Phra Bat Huai Tom area.

 

The idea for Phra Mahathat Chedi Si Wiang Chai was initiated by Luang Pu Khruba Chaiyawongsa Phatthana, a highly respected monk closely connected with the Phra Bat Huai Tom community. The chedi was designed as a Buddhist monument dedicated to the 5 Buddhas of the current auspicious aeon, serving as a major place of worship for Thai people and Buddhist devotees.

 

Although its form is often compared with the Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar, Phra Mahathat Chedi Si Wiang Chai also carries strong Lanna identity. Its design brings together Buddhist symbolism, local devotion, laterite craftsmanship and the collective faith of the Pga K’nyau community around Ban Huai Tom.

 

The use of laterite is one of the most important features of the chedi. Laterite gives the monument a strong, grounded and dignified character beneath its golden exterior. This material also connects the structure with the local landscape and the construction traditions of the area. The result is a sacred monument that feels both monumental and deeply rooted in Li District.

 

Phra Mahathat Chedi Si Wiang Chai is closely connected with Wat Phra Phutthabat Huai Tom and the surrounding Phra Bat Huai Tom community. Visitors can combine a visit to the chedi with the main temple, Phra Mueang Kaew Viharn, the sacred preserved body of Luang Pu Khruba Chaiyawongsa Phatthana, and the community’s cultural way of life.

 

Getting There is most convenient by private car or rental vehicle. From Li town, travel toward Na Sai Subdistrict and the Phra Bat Huai Tom community. The site can be visited together with Wat Phra Phutthabat Huai Tom, Wat Phra That Ha Duang, Wat Phra That Duang Diao and Mae Yang Ngua Reservoir. Travelers who want to explore both the temple, the chedi and the community should allow at least half a day.

 

Visitors should dress respectfully, keep noise low and behave appropriately around the sacred areas. Phra Mahathat Chedi Si Wiang Chai is best experienced not only as an architectural landmark, but also as a place of faith, Lanna Buddhist art, community devotion and the spiritual legacy of Luang Pu Khruba Chaiyawongsa Phatthana.

 

 

A: It is located in Moo 9, Ban Nong Pu or Ban Huai Tom, Na Sai Subdistrict, Li District, Lamphun Province, near Wat Phra Phutthabat Huai Tom.

 

A: The highlight is its large laterite chedi inspired by the Shwedagon Pagoda, with a 40 x 40 meter base and a height of 64.39 meters.

 

A: The project was initiated by Luang Pu Khruba Chaiyawongsa Phatthana.

 

A: It was built as a Buddhist chedi dedicated to the 5 Buddhas of the current auspicious aeon and as an important place of worship for Thai Buddhists.

 

A: Yes. It is located very close to Wat Phra Phutthabat Huai Tom and can be visited in the same route.

 

A: Visitors should allow about 1–2 hours for the chedi, or at least half a day if combining it with Wat Phra Phutthabat Huai Tom and the Phra Bat Huai Tom community.

 

A: Nearby places include Wat Phra Phutthabat Huai Tom, the Phra Bat Huai Tom community, Wat Phra That Ha Duang, Wat Phra That Duang Diao and Mae Yang Ngua Reservoir.