Wat Bumrung Thummarart Satharam

Rating: 2.3/5 (32 votes)

Open Days: Open Daily

Opening Hours: 08:00 – 17:00

 

Wat Bamrung Tham Ratsadon Sattharam (Wat Lang) is an important community temple in Bang Pakong, widely remembered through the local narrative of the “Upper Temple – Middle Temple – Lower Temple” sequence. Its most distinctive feature is the ordination hall built in 1957 (B.E. 2500), measuring 7 x 22.50 meters, with pearl-toned finishes both outside and inside. Surrounding the ordination hall is a boundary wall decorated with Dhammachakra motifs that immediately catches the eye. The temple is also tied to local tradition through stories of Phra Ajarn Khong, a respected monk known for his expertise in meditation and vipassana practice, as well as the historical memory of a 20-wa flagpole that once served as a “navigation landmark” for people traveling through forested routes in earlier times.

 

Locals commonly refer to this temple as “Wat Lang” because it lies beyond Wat Klang, across Khlong Yai Moei, on the other side. The name “Wat Lang” does not imply lesser importance; rather, it is a geographic language used by riverside communities to communicate clearly in an area where temples are positioned in a continuous sequence: the Upper Temple, the Middle Temple, and the Lower Temple. Over time, this plainspoken naming system became a cultural identity. When people in Bang Pakong mention “Wat Lang,” they typically mean the temple with the striking pearl-toned ordination hall and a strong tradition of community care and restoration.

 

In local historical memory, Wat Lang is closely associated with “Phra Ajarn Khong,” revered by residents as a monk skilled in meditation discipline and vipassana, with a respected monastic practice and strong moral authority. These stories matter because they show that the temple is more than a ritual venue. For many residents on the lower side of Bang Pakong, the temple has long been a place to regain steadiness, seek guidance, and find calm through spiritual practice. In this way, Wat Lang functions as a “center of the heart” for the community, connecting people through merit-making, temple ceremonies, and public-benefit activities.

 

Another well-known memory that reflects Bang Pakong’s older landscape is the story of a “20-wa flagpole” that once stood within the temple grounds. Local accounts describe it as an important marker for those who needed to travel through routes that were still highly natural and forested at the time. A tall landmark visible from afar helped travelers set direction and reduce the risk of getting lost. This detail is more than a small anecdote: it suggests the temple once served as a practical geographic reference point in everyday life, similar in spirit to a lighthouse for communities that rely on natural routes.

 

The main reason many visitors come to Wat Bamrung Tham Ratsadon Sattharam (Wat Lang) today is the ordination hall, built in 1957 (B.E. 2500). Community accounts remember the construction as a collective effort supported by multiple parties, particularly during the period of Phra Khru Chueai Dhammaghoso (Boonmee), who was the second abbot in that era, alongside contributions from local benefactors until completion. The building measures 7 meters in width and 22.50 meters in length – well-proportioned for a community temple – yet it stands out clearly because its finishing details are unlike those of ordinary ordination halls.

 

The signature element most often mentioned by visitors is the “pearl-toned” appearance across both the exterior and the interior. When natural light falls on the surfaces, the finish feels soft, layered, and refined. For local residents, this beauty is not an expression of luxury for display; it is understood as a careful offering – giving the best possible craftsmanship as an act of devotion. As a result, the ordination hall has become a tangible emblem of community unity: beauty that exists because people continued to work together to create it and preserve it.

 

Around the ordination hall is a boundary wall designed with Dhammachakra motifs, creating a clean, orderly visual rhythm that is immediately noticeable. In Buddhist symbolism, the Dhammachakra represents the proclamation and turning of the Wheel of Dhamma – guiding people toward understanding and peace. Using the Dhammachakra as a prominent motif around the ordination hall effectively reinforces that this space is the community’s core of Dhamma. It is a place that naturally invites calm behavior, polite conduct, and respect for a sacred environment.

 

Seen within the broader picture of Bang Pakong District, Wat Lang’s significance lies in being a truly community-based temple. Many people come not because of travel trends, but because of long-term attachment: making merit on important Buddhist days, participating in ordinations and funerals, joining kathin and pha pa ceremonies, or simply stopping by to pray and quiet the mind before returning to daily responsibilities. For many residents, the temple quietly supports life through different seasons – joy, loss, transition, and the hope of beginning again.

 

Wat Lang is also a valuable example of Bang Pakong’s culture of preservation. Local narratives emphasize that the community regularly helps repair, maintain, and sustain the ordination hall’s beauty. This continuity is evidence of community strength, because religious architecture cannot remain enduring through the work of a single group. It depends on shared values passed across generations. In that sense, Wat Lang reflects a living relationship between religion, art heritage, and community organization within Thailand’s central plains context.

 

To experience Wat Lang fully, begin by paying respects in the ordination hall, then take time to observe the pearl-toned surfaces inside and out, and walk around the Dhammachakra-decorated boundary wall at a calm pace. Morning light tends to reveal the finishing details most clearly, and the atmosphere is usually quiet – ideal for simple merit-making. Late afternoon to early evening feels comfortable and is well suited for visitors who want a peaceful stop after travel or after work.

 

Dress and etiquette matter here because Wat Lang remains an active temple where monks reside and the local community uses the space daily. Modest clothing, avoiding overly short garments or exposed shoulders, and using a gentle voice help visitors share the space respectfully. Around the ordination hall, avoid disruptive photography and refrain from walking closely across the front of sacred images if others are chanting or meditating.

 

If you want to see the full “Upper – Middle – Lower” temple sequence in one day, you can plan an easy route that follows local geography: start at Wat Khongkharam (Wat Bon) to see older heritage objects and traces of age, then visit Wat Klang, and cross the canal to Wat Bamrung Tham Ratsadon Sattharam (Wat Lang) to appreciate the distinctive pearl-toned ordination hall. You can then end the day at popular riverside landmarks such as Wat Hong Thong or stop by a riverside market and restaurants along the Bang Pakong River. This route makes temple visits feel less like a checklist and more like reading the living story of the community across locations.

 

Getting There If you are driving from Bangkok, you can use the main highways or the motorway into Bang Pakong District and set your navigation to “Wat Bamrung Tham Ratsadon Sattharam (Wat Lang)” in Bang Pakong Subdistrict. The area is well connected, making it convenient to continue on to nearby temples and riverside attractions. If you are using public transportation, many travelers arrive in Bang Pakong or Chachoengsao town first and then take a local taxi or other local transport to the temple, depending on convenience.

 

 

A: It is located in Bang Pakong Subdistrict, Bang Pakong District, Chachoengsao Province, and is commonly known as “Wat Lang” in the local Upper–Middle–Lower temple sequence.

 

A: The ordination hall was built in 1957 (B.E. 2500) and measures 7 meters wide by 22.50 meters long.

 

A: Its signature feature is the pearl-toned finishing across both exterior and interior, together with a Dhammachakra-motif boundary wall surrounding the hall.

 

A: Local memory describes it as a tall landmark once used by travelers to set direction and avoid getting lost, reflecting the temple’s role as a real-life reference point in the older landscape.

 

A: The contact number is 038-531-661.