Wat Welu Wannaram

Wat Welu Wannaram is located at No. 2/1, Ban Ton Han, Village No. 3, Wang Sanpros Subdistrict, Khlung District, Chanthaburi Province. It is a public temple under the Mahanikaya sect of Thai Buddhism. The temple occupies a land area of 18 rai, 2 ngan, and 13 square wah, with land title deed No. 39. Its boundaries are: to the north, adjacent to the Wehu Canal; to the south, adjacent to a school and public road; to the east, adjacent to Mrs. Lailert Rakwong’s land; and to the west, adjacent to a public road. The temple also has five additional plots of monastic land covering a total of 26 rai, 1 ngan, and 45 square wah (land deed numbers 10868, 10869, 10872, 10873, and 18320).

 

The temple buildings include an ordination hall (ubosot) measuring 30 meters wide and 40 meters long, built in 1978 with reinforced concrete; a sermon hall (sala kan parian) 20 meters wide and 23 meters long, built in 1966 with reinforced concrete; and a prayer tower (ho sut mon) 28 meters wide and 24 meters long, built in 1958 with reinforced concrete. There are three monks’ residences: two wooden houses and one half-timbered structure. The multipurpose pavilion is 15 meters wide and 24 meters long, constructed in 1995 with reinforced concrete. Additionally, there are two merit-making pavilions, one built with reinforced concrete and one made of wood.

 

The temple houses a principal sacred object, a Buddha image in the Maravijaya posture, commonly known by locals as Luang Pho Yai.

 

Wat Welu Wannaram was founded in 1188 BE (2731 BE in the Buddhist Era, corresponding to the traditional founding year), and locals also call it Wat Wenu or Wat Pa Phai. The temple received official royal recognition of its sacred boundary (Wisungkhamasima) on May 20, 1984, with the designated area measuring 30 meters wide and 40 meters long.

 

The administration of the temple has seen several abbots, including Phra Athikan Kas, Phra Athikan Khong, Phra Athikan Chob, Phra Athikan Kaew, Phra Athikan Jeed, Phra Athikan Thood, Phra Athikan Hua, Phra Kru Wimonthamathorn (serving from 1947–1986), and Phra Kru Amornthamwat (serving from 1990 to the present).

 

The temple is also a center for religious education, hosting a Pariyatti School (Dhamma section), which has been in operation since 1902 BE, providing instruction in Buddhist scriptures, monastic discipline, and meditation practice for monks and novices. Beyond education, the temple serves as a venue for daily rituals, community merit-making, chanting ceremonies, and local cultural traditions, making it not only a sacred site but also a hub of cultural and spiritual learning for the people of Khlung District, Chanthaburi Province.

 

The temple grounds are spacious and serene, offering a place of spiritual retreat for locals and visitors alike. Its architecture reflects traditional Thai styles integrated with modern construction, including the ordination hall, sermon hall, prayer tower, monks’ residences, multipurpose pavilion, and merit-making pavilions. Wat Welu Wannaram is thus a complete center of religious, cultural, and educational significance, preserving both spiritual practice and local heritage.