Wat Phra That Khiri Khet (Wat Lum)

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.00 – 17.00

 

Wat Phra That Khiri Khet, locally known as Wat Lum, is one of the most important historic Buddhist temples in Takua Pa District, Phang Nga Province. It is deeply connected with the faith, old-town history, and cultural identity of Takua Pa. The temple enshrines the Buddha relics of Takua Pa, houses a replica of the Buddha’s footprint, preserves the sacred Pho Than Kaen Rak, contains a remarkable jade-stone Buddha image behind the principal Buddha image in the ubosot, and is associated with the Phra Borommathat Chedi on Khao Phra Bat. For travelers who want to understand Takua Pa beyond old shophouses and cafés, this temple is one of the clearest windows into the town’s spiritual heritage.

 

The temple stands on Klan Kaew Road in Takua Pa Subdistrict, Takua Pa District, Phang Nga Province, close to the old-town area. This setting is important because Takua Pa was once a significant settlement on the Andaman coast, shaped by trade, river routes, tin mining, Chinese migration, Buddhist institutions, and local community life. A visit to Wat Phra That Khiri Khet therefore gives travelers a deeper sense of Takua Pa as a living cultural town, not only as a historical walking street.

 

The name Wat Phra That Khiri Khet reflects the temple’s landscape and sacred role. “Khiri” refers to a mountain, while “Phra That” refers to the sacred relics. Local residents call the temple Wat Lum because the temple area lies in a lower, sloping landscape. In the past, the temple was also known by several names, including Wat Khuan Pom, Wat Khuan Chai Khao, Wat Khuan Chedi, and Wat Talat Tai, before the current name Wat Khiri Khet or Wat Phra That Khiri Khet became commonly used.

 

According to the Fine Arts Department, Wat Khiri Khet is the first temple of Takua Pa town. It was founded on 15 May 1893. In its earliest phase, it was only a residence for monks, then gradually developed into an established temple. The temple received its royal boundary grant for monastic ceremonies on 25 August 1919. This history gives Wat Phra That Khiri Khet a special status in Takua Pa because it is directly linked to the formation of the Buddhist community in the old town.

 

Another cultural record describes the temple as originally serving as a forest-dwelling monastic residence for monks practicing meditation. This background helps explain the quiet character of the temple and its connection with hillside and natural surroundings. The temple’s development from a monastic retreat into an important town temple reflects the growth of Takua Pa itself: from settlement and spiritual refuge to a structured community with temples, civic spaces, trade routes, and public ceremonies.

 

The most important sacred element at Wat Phra That Khiri Khet is the Buddha relics of Takua Pa. Historical records mention a golden reliquary containing Buddha relics, and the temple is the center of the annual procession of Phra Sri Borommathat around Takua Pa Old Town on Makha Bucha Day. This makes the temple much more than a local worship place. It is a spiritual center for the whole town and a key site for public Buddhist devotion.

 

The replica of the Buddha’s footprint is another important point of worship. In Buddhist symbolism, the Buddha’s footprint represents remembrance of the Buddha and the path of Dhamma. Paying respect to the footprint at Wat Phra That Khiri Khet is therefore an act of devotion and reflection, reminding visitors to follow the Buddha’s teachings in daily life.

 

Pho Than Kaen Rak is a sacred figure deeply respected by local people. Devotees visit the temple to pay respect, pray for auspiciousness, and seek spiritual reassurance. For visitors, this local devotion is part of the temple’s intangible cultural heritage. It should be approached quietly and respectfully, without treating sacred objects merely as tourist attractions.

 

One of the temple’s most unusual features is the jade-stone Buddha image behind the principal Buddha image inside the ubosot. Visitors who enter the ordination hall carefully can observe this distinctive image behind the main Buddha. This feature gives the interior of the ubosot a memorable quality and adds another layer of interest for cultural travelers and Buddhist visitors.

 

The ubosot of Wat Phra That Khiri Khet is an important historic structure. In 2026, the 12th Regional Office of Fine Arts, Nakhon Si Thammarat, inspected the conservation and development project for the historic ubosot. This confirms that the temple remains an active heritage site under professional conservation attention. The ubosot is not just a place of worship; it is also an architectural record of local Buddhist history in Takua Pa.

 

The ubosot is a simple brick-and-mortar structure in local southern style. It has a two-tiered roof covered with cement kite-shaped tiles. Inside, it enshrines a brass Buddha image. Around the ubosot are sema boundary markers shaped like square lotus buds. These details are modest but meaningful. They reflect local craftsmanship and the practical elegance of southern Thai religious architecture.

 

Within the temple area, there is also a square ancient mound with a base made from compacted layers of gravel, sand, and lime. This construction technique is similar to materials found at the old Governor’s Residence wall in Takua Pa. This connection makes the temple part of the wider archaeological landscape of the old town. Visitors who take time to observe the temple grounds will see that the site links Buddhist heritage with the physical remains of historic Takua Pa.

 

The Fine Arts Department registered and defined the historic site boundary of Wat Khiri Khet in the Royal Gazette, Volume 116, Special Part 7 Ngor, dated 22 January 1999. The registered area covers 3 ngan and 34.30 square wah. This official heritage status confirms the cultural value of the temple and reinforces the need for visitors to treat old structures, sema stones, and historic elements with care.

 

The Phra Borommathat Chedi on Khao Phra Bat is another major sacred landmark associated with the temple. In 2025, public information about the Makha Bucha ceremony stated that the chedi on Khao Phra Bat had been completed. It is a recessed-square chedi with entrances in four directions. Its upper section is designed with five stacked alms-bowl forms, followed by receding rings and a finial. The chedi is 39 meters high and serves as a major place of worship for the people of Takua Pa.

 

The temple is closely connected with the annual Makha Bucha tradition known as “Noom Jai Wantha Phra Sri Borommathat.” During this event, Phra Sri Borommathat is placed on a ceremonial royal cart and carried in procession around Takua Pa Old Town. The ceremony brings together monks, local authorities, community groups, private organizations, and Buddhist devotees. It is one of the strongest living examples of Takua Pa’s Buddhist and cultural identity.

 

The procession of Phra Sri Borommathat has deep meaning for local residents. Paying respect to the Buddha relics is considered a way to honor the Buddha and receive spiritual blessing. As the procession moves through the old town, people join with flowers, music, offerings, and respectful gestures. This turns the entire old-town route into a shared sacred space and shows how closely Wat Phra That Khiri Khet is tied to the heart of Takua Pa.

 

The current abbot of Wat Phra That Khiri Khet is Phra Siri Thammachan, Chitti Suphajaro, Pali level 7, who also serves as an advisor to the Sangha administration of Phang Nga Province. His name appears in provincial Buddhist activities and in reports on the Makha Bucha procession. This confirms the temple’s importance not only at the community level but also within the wider Buddhist administration of Phang Nga.

 

A meaningful visit should begin with paying respect inside the main worship areas, then observing the ubosot, the Buddha footprint replica, Pho Than Kaen Rak, the jade-stone Buddha image, and the ancient mound. If access to Khao Phra Bat is open according to temple conditions or event arrangements, visitors can continue to the Phra Borommathat Chedi to experience one of Takua Pa’s most important sacred viewpoints.

 

Wat Phra That Khiri Khet is suitable for several types of travelers. Buddhist visitors can make merit and pray. Cultural travelers can learn about the first temple of Takua Pa and its registered historic remains. Architecture lovers can observe the simple southern-style ubosot and sema markers. Visitors interested in local traditions can connect the temple with the Makha Bucha relic procession and the cultural life of Takua Pa Old Town.

 

The atmosphere of the temple is calm and authentic. It is still a living Buddhist temple, not a museum-style attraction. Visitors should dress modestly, keep their voices low, avoid disturbing monks or worshippers, and never touch old structures unnecessarily. Respectful behavior is essential because the temple is both a sacred place and a protected cultural heritage site.

 

The best time to visit is in the morning or late afternoon, when the weather is more comfortable for walking and photography. Morning is suitable for merit-making and quiet observation, while late afternoon provides softer light for temple views. Makha Bucha Day is the most important seasonal period connected with the temple, as the relic procession brings the old town to life with Buddhist devotion and community participation.

 

Getting There is convenient by private car, rental car, or public transport to Takua Pa town. From the town area, continue to Klan Kaew Road near Takua Pa Old Town. Travelers using buses should get off in Takua Pa and continue by local vehicle or hired transport. The temple can easily be combined with a cultural route through Takua Pa Old Town, the Old Governor’s Residence, Boon Soong Iron Bridge, and Khlong Sang-Ne.

 

Travelers driving from Khao Lak or Thai Mueang can follow Phet Kasem Road or Highway 4 toward Takua Pa, then enter the old-town area and Klan Kaew Road. Travelers from Phuket can drive north through Thai Mueang and Khao Lak before reaching Takua Pa. Those coming from Surat Thani or Khao Sok can approach Takua Pa from the inland route and then continue to the old town.

 

A strong cultural itinerary starts at Wat Phra That Khiri Khet for worship and heritage learning, then continues to Takua Pa Cultural Street, the Old Governor’s Residence, Boon Soong Iron Bridge, and Khlong Sang-Ne. This route gives visitors a complete view of Takua Pa through religion, old-town architecture, tin-mining history, local trade, and riverine nature.

 

Compared with other temples in Takua Pa, Wat Phra That Khiri Khet is distinctive because it combines several layers of importance in one site: the first temple of the town, the Buddha relics of Takua Pa, the chedi on Khao Phra Bat, the historic ubosot under conservation, and the Makha Bucha relic procession. These layers make the temple one of the best places to understand the spiritual identity of Takua Pa.

 

Visitors with limited time should allow at least 45 minutes to 1 hour for the temple. This is enough for worship, viewing the ubosot, and walking through the important areas. Those who want to visit Khao Phra Bat, study architectural details, or attend a religious event should allow more time, especially during festival periods when many worshippers visit the temple.

 

In summary, Wat Phra That Khiri Khet, or Wat Lum, is a must-visit cultural temple in Takua Pa. It brings together sacred relics, local devotion, historic architecture, archaeological remains, a mountain chedi, and one of the town’s most important Buddhist traditions. For travelers seeking the deeper cultural side of Phang Nga, this temple provides a meaningful and memorable understanding of old Takua Pa.

 

 

A: Wat Phra That Khiri Khet is located on Klan Kaew Road in Takua Pa Subdistrict, Takua Pa District, Phang Nga Province 82110, near Takua Pa Old Town.

 

A: Local residents call it Wat Lum because the temple area lies in a lower, sloping landscape. The name has been used locally for many generations.

 

A: The temple is known for the Buddha relics of Takua Pa, the replica of the Buddha’s footprint, Pho Than Kaen Rak, the jade-stone Buddha image, the historic ubosot, and the chedi on Khao Phra Bat.

 

A: The temple is open daily from 08.00 to 17.00.

 

A: There is no admission fee. Visitors may make donations according to their faith.

 

A: The chedi is an important sacred landmark of Takua Pa. It is 39 meters high and is associated with the worship of the Buddha relics of the town.

 

A: The temple is connected with the Makha Bucha tradition called Noom Jai Wantha Phra Sri Borommathat, when the relics are carried in procession around Takua Pa Old Town.

 

A: Nearby places include Takua Pa Cultural Street, the Old Governor’s Residence, the Old Governor’s Residence Wall, Boon Soong Iron Bridge, and Khlong Sang-Ne / Little Amazon Takuapa.