Wat Rat Udom

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.00 - 17.00

 

Wat Rat Udom, also known locally as Wat Na Nun, is located at No. 191, Moo 2, Tha Wang Pha-Chiang Kham Road, Pha To Subdistrict, Tha Wang Pha District, Nan Province. It is a public Buddhist temple under the Mahanikaya order and serves as an important spiritual center for the communities of Ban Na Nun 2 and Ban Na Nun 3. The temple is closely connected with local faith, village history, and Buddhist practice. Its most important sacred feature is Phra Borom That Chedi Si Udom Mongkhon, a stupa built through the collective devotion of the local community and enshrining 9 relics of the Buddha.

 

The temple stands along Tha Wang Pha-Chiang Kham Road, an important route connecting Tha Wang Pha District in Nan with communities toward the northern highland areas and the route toward Phayao. Because of this location, Wat Rat Udom is accessible from both the main road and local community roads. The surrounding area is rural, with villages, agricultural land, and local roads forming the daily landscape of Pha To Subdistrict. In this context, the temple functions not only as a place of worship but also as a shared community space.

 

The temple land covers 5 rai, 3 ngan, and 16 square wah, with one additional plot of monastic land measuring 1 rai. Its northern boundary extends approximately 30 wa and meets private land. The southern boundary extends approximately 30 wa and meets a public road and private land. The eastern boundary extends approximately 80 wa and meets Tha Wang Pha-Chiang Kham Road, while the western boundary extends approximately 80 wa and meets a public road and private land. These boundaries show that the temple is positioned within the living fabric of the village and remains closely connected with local roads and households.

 

The history of Wat Rat Udom began with the faith and generosity of local people. Permission to build the temple was granted on June 1, 1972. Mr. Khai Lamkham donated the land, while Mr. Khiao Maiya requested permission to establish the temple. The Ministry of Education officially announced the establishment of the temple on February 28, 1977. These details show that the temple was created from the initiative of local villagers who wanted a Buddhist place of worship for merit-making, Dhamma listening, ceremonies, and community gatherings.

 

The local name Wat Na Nun reflects the temple’s direct relationship with Ban Na Nun. In many northern Thai communities, a temple often carries both an official name and a local name based on the village where it stands. The name Wat Na Nun therefore preserves the memory of the community that supported the temple from the beginning. Meanwhile, the official name Wat Rat Udom carries an auspicious meaning associated with the prosperity and well-being of the people.

 

Wat Rat Udom received its royal boundary marker for monastic ceremonies on July 4, 1986. The consecrated boundary measures 20 meters wide and 40 meters long. This is an important status in Thai Buddhism, as the royal boundary marks the area where formal Sangha ceremonies, including ordination, can be conducted. With this recognition, the temple became fully established as a proper Buddhist institution within the monastic system.

 

One of the most important features of Wat Rat Udom is Phra Borom That Chedi Si Udom Mongkhon. The stupa was built by Wat Rat Udom together with the faithful communities of Ban Na Nun 2 and Ban Na Nun 3. Construction began on June 9, 2006 and was completed in 2007. The project took about one year and required a budget of more than 2 million baht. The construction of this stupa is a clear example of the collective strength of the community, requiring donations, labor, planning, and continuous religious devotion.

 

The sacred importance of the stupa increased when Phra Athikan Singthong Chittadhammo, the abbot of Wat Rat Udom, together with the temple’s lay supporters, formally requested relics of the Buddha from Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, on March 8, 2007. Later, on May 20, 2008, the temple received 9 relics of the Buddha along with the formal name of the stupa: Phra Borom That Chedi Si Udom Mongkhon. The name expresses auspiciousness, spiritual prosperity, and the sacred value of the relic stupa for the community.

 

The ceremony to enshrine the relics and raise the ceremonial umbrella was held on June 9, 2007. Phra Thep Nandajarn, the ecclesiastical chief of Nan Province, and Phra Khru Phrom Weerasunthon, the ecclesiastical chief of Tha Wang Pha District, presided over the ceremony on the monastic side. Mr. Sompong Anuyutthapong, the Governor of Nan Province, served as the lay presiding official. This ceremony became a major event in the history of the temple and confirmed the stupa as a central sacred monument for the local community.

 

Phra Borom That Chedi Si Udom Mongkhon is important not only as a religious structure but also as a symbol of shared faith. The fact that two village communities worked together to build the stupa shows how deeply Buddhism is woven into local life. The stupa is a place of worship, a center of devotion, and a physical reminder of community cooperation. For this reason, Wat Rat Udom has a distinct identity as a temple whose sacred monument was born from collective faith.

 

The atmosphere of Wat Rat Udom is peaceful and simple, typical of a community temple in rural Nan. It is not a large commercial tourist attraction, but it offers meaningful value for travelers interested in local temples, village history, and Buddhist devotion. Visitors can pay respect to the stupa, observe the temple grounds, and appreciate the quiet surroundings of Ban Na Nun. The temple is best experienced slowly and respectfully.

 

Today, Wat Rat Udom continues to serve local religious life. Villagers come to the temple for merit-making, Buddhist holy days, annual ceremonies, and community activities. Important Buddhist occasions such as Makha Bucha Day, Visakha Bucha Day, Asalha Bucha Day, Buddhist Lent, and the end of Buddhist Lent remain connected with temple life. Through these activities, the temple helps maintain the relationship between monks and villagers and supports the unity of the community.

 

For cultural travelers, Wat Rat Udom is suitable for those who want to explore community temples in Tha Wang Pha District beyond the main tourist route. Although it is less widely known than Wat Nong Bua or Wat Sri Mongkol, it has strong local significance. Its history of land donation, official establishment, royal boundary recognition, and the construction of a relic stupa by local supporters gives the temple a clear and meaningful community identity.

 

Getting There Travelers can reach Wat Rat Udom by following Tha Wang Pha-Chiang Kham Road toward Pha To Subdistrict in Tha Wang Pha District, Nan Province. Private car is the most convenient option. The temple can be included in a cultural travel route with nearby sites such as Wat Nong Bua, Ban Nong Bua Tai Lue Village, Wat Sri Mongkol, Cocoa Valley, and Pua District. This makes it suitable for travelers who want to combine religious sites, village culture, and northern Nan landscapes in one trip.

 

Visitors should dress modestly and behave respectfully within the temple grounds. When visiting the stupa, visitors should walk calmly, avoid climbing or touching sacred structures inappropriately, and take photographs with care. Since Wat Rat Udom is an active community temple, visitors should avoid disturbing monks or villagers during religious activities. The best time to visit is in the morning or late afternoon, when the weather is more comfortable and the atmosphere is quiet.

 

In summary, Wat Rat Udom, or Wat Na Nun, is an important community temple in Pha To Subdistrict, Tha Wang Pha District, Nan Province. It reflects the faith of local villagers from its founding through land donation, temple establishment, royal boundary recognition, and the construction of Phra Borom That Chedi Si Udom Mongkhon. The enshrinement of 9 relics of the Buddha gives the temple deep sacred meaning. For travelers interested in Buddhist culture, community temples, and local history in Nan, Wat Rat Udom is a quiet but meaningful place to visit.

 

 

A: Wat Rat Udom is located at No. 191, Moo 2, Tha Wang Pha-Chiang Kham Road, Pha To Subdistrict, Tha Wang Pha District, Nan Province.

 

A: Local villagers call it Wat Na Nun after the Ban Na Nun community.

 

A: Permission to build the temple was granted on June 1, 1972, and it was officially established as a temple on February 28, 1977.

 

A: The most important sacred feature is Phra Borom That Chedi Si Udom Mongkhon, which enshrines 9 relics of the Buddha.

 

A: The abbot of Wat Rat Udom is Phra Athikan Singthong Chittadhammo.

 

A: Travelers can drive via Tha Wang Pha-Chiang Kham Road toward Pha To Subdistrict. Private car is the most convenient option.