Wat Phra That Khing Kang

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: Contact The Temple Directly Before Entering Important Interior Areas

 

Wat Phra That Khing Kaeng in Phayao Province is an old and important Buddhist temple in Chun District, located in Phra That Khing Kaeng Subdistrict, Chun District, Phayao Province. The temple stands along Highway 1091 on the Chun–Pong route, about 8 km from Chun District town. Before reaching Ban That Khing School, visitors will see a side road leading to the temple on the right. Turn into the road for about 200 meters, and the temple is located on the left-hand side. Set on a low hill with spacious grounds, a peaceful atmosphere, and shaded surroundings, Wat Phra That Khing Kaeng is a meaningful place for paying respect to the sacred chedi, appreciating Lanna architecture, and experiencing the calm rural landscape of Chun District.

 

The main highlight of the temple is Phra That Khing Kaeng, also known locally as Phra That Chao Khing Kaeng. This large Lanna-style chedi stands prominently within the temple grounds and serves as the spiritual center of the local community. The chedi has a square base measuring about 15 meters on each side and rises to a height of about 20 meters. Its overall form is dignified, balanced, and graceful. Standing on a hill, the chedi becomes especially striking when viewed from the temple courtyard. It is not only a Buddhist monument, but also a living symbol of faith for people in Chun District, especially during the annual Phra That Khing Kaeng bathing ceremony.

 

The name Phra That Khing Kaeng is deeply connected with the local community and the surrounding area. In local documents and community usage, the name Wat Phra That Khing Kaeng is closely tied to Phra That Chao Khing Kaeng, showing that the chedi is the heart of the temple. Local residents from Chun District and nearby areas come here to pay respect, make merit, ask for blessings, and participate in Buddhist ceremonies throughout the year. The temple’s importance therefore lies not only in its architectural beauty, but also in its role as a spiritual anchor for the people of the area.

 

The chedi is a beautiful example of local Lanna Buddhist architecture. It stands on a square base and features 4 arched niches, or ruean kaeo-style niches, on the 4 directions. Each niche enshrines a Buddha image for visitors to pay respect. The middle section of the chedi is decorated with colored glass, creating a luminous effect when sunlight touches the surface, especially in the morning and late afternoon. Around the chedi is a low enclosing wall, and at the 4 corners stand smaller subsidiary chedis. These elements create a complete sacred composition according to northern Thai Buddhist tradition.

 

The 4 niches of the chedi are not merely decorative. They express the idea of Buddhist protection and sacred presence extending toward all directions. Visitors can walk around the chedi and pay respect from different sides. The Buddha images in each niche create a feeling of blessing and guardianship in all directions, while the 4 subsidiary chedis help balance the overall sacred layout. Together, these elements make Phra That Khing Kaeng architecturally refined and spiritually meaningful.

 

The enclosing wall around the chedi marks the sacred boundary of the relic area. Visitors entering this space should do so with respect. Modest dress, quiet behavior, and careful movement are appropriate. Those who wish to walk around the chedi may perform circumambulation in a clockwise direction, a traditional way of showing reverence to sacred Buddhist objects. Walking around Phra That Khing Kaeng slowly allows visitors to appreciate both the architecture and the peaceful atmosphere of the temple.

 

The temple’s hilltop location gives it a different feeling from temples located on flat ground. Upon entering the temple area, visitors can sense the open and calm atmosphere of the spacious grounds. The hill setting allows views of the surrounding community, roads, and rural landscape of Chun District. The shade and quietness of the temple make it a suitable place to rest the mind during a journey along the Chun–Pong route.

 

The charm of Wat Phra That Khing Kaeng comes from the combination of sacred presence and community simplicity. Although the chedi is large and visually impressive, the temple still retains a calm and local atmosphere. Visitors can pay respect, walk around the chedi, observe the Lanna-style details, and spend time quietly within the temple grounds. This makes the temple suitable for both pilgrims and travelers interested in northern Thai religious architecture.

 

Phra That Khing Kaeng is highly respected as an important chedi of Chun District. The most significant annual tradition associated with the temple is the Phra That Khing Kaeng bathing ceremony, held around April each year. The ceremony includes bathing the chedi, wrapping the chedi with sacred cloth, making merit, listening to sermons, and participating in community religious activities. This tradition reflects the strength of local faith and the community’s commitment to preserving Lanna Buddhist culture.

 

The Phra That Khing Kaeng bathing ceremony carries both religious and social meaning. Bathing the chedi is an act of reverence toward the sacred relic monument and a symbolic cleansing of the mind. Local residents prepare scented water, turmeric and som poi water, flowers, incense, candles, and offerings for the ritual. The atmosphere is filled with devotion, cooperation, and a strong bond between the temple and the community.

 

In 2025, the annual ceremony was organized under the theme “981 Years Of Continuing Faith: Ched Peng Worship And Bathing Phra That Chao Khing Kaeng.” This reflects the high importance of the chedi in local memory and religious life. Such ceremonies help younger generations learn about their hometown heritage while giving visitors from other areas a chance to experience Lanna Buddhist merit-making traditions closely.

 

Both ordinary days and festival periods are good times to visit Wat Phra That Khing Kaeng, depending on the purpose of the trip. Visitors seeking quietness should come on regular days or in the morning, when they can pay respect, walk around the chedi, and photograph the architecture without rushing. Visitors who want to see the strength of community faith should come during the annual chedi bathing ceremony, when the temple becomes lively with ritual, devotion, and local cultural expression.

 

In addition to the chedi itself, the temple grounds are spacious enough to support merit-making activities and annual ceremonies. The broad hilltop area allows the temple to host ritual processions, community gatherings, offerings, sermons, and local events. This shows that the temple remains an active religious and cultural space, not merely a place where an old monument is preserved.

 

From an artistic perspective, Phra That Khing Kaeng is a strong example of Lanna chedi design. Its architectural components include a square base, 4 directional niches, the main body of the chedi, a bell-shaped section, upper elements, and 4 subsidiary chedis. These details make the temple useful for studying northern Thai sacred architecture, especially the layout of a relic monument within an enclosing wall.

 

Visitors should first view the chedi from a distance to appreciate its full proportions. After that, they can slowly move closer to observe the base, the 4 niches, the Buddha images, the colored glass decoration, the enclosing wall, and the 4 subsidiary chedis. This method of observation helps visitors understand both the overall form and the smaller details of the chedi. Walking around the monument also helps explain why this chedi has become a major focus of local devotion in Chun District.

 

Wat Phra That Khing Kaeng is also significant because of its connection to the Chun–Pong route. Since it is located near Highway 1091, it is convenient for travelers heading toward Pong District, Doi Phu Langka, or northern parts of Phayao Province. The temple can serve as both a spiritual destination and a peaceful stop along a route that combines cultural and natural attractions.

 

For travelers coming from Mueang Phayao, the temple can be included in a deeper cultural route through Chun District. A possible itinerary may begin from Mueang Phayao, continue to Chun District, visit Wat Phra That Khing Kaeng, then proceed to nearby places such as Wiang Lo Ancient Town, Wat Si Ping Mueang, Wat Phra That Sam Duang, or continue onward toward Pong District and Doi Phu Langka. This route is suitable for visitors who want to explore Phayao beyond Kwan Phayao and the city temples.

 

Traveling to Wat Phra That Khing Kaeng is convenient by private car or motorcycle. From Chun District town, take Highway 1091 on the Chun–Pong route toward Ban That Khing Kaeng. Before reaching Ban That Khing School, turn right into the temple access road for about 200 meters. The temple will be on the left. The route is not complicated, but drivers should be careful at the side-road entrance, especially during festival periods when more vehicles and people may be present.

 

Getting There from Mueang Phayao is done by traveling toward Chun District, then continuing toward Pong District on Highway 1091. Near Ban That Khing Kaeng, before Ban That Khing School, turn right into the side road for about 200 meters. Wat Phra That Khing Kaeng is located on the left-hand side. Private cars are the most convenient option, while visitors without their own vehicles should consider renting a car or asking about local transport in Chun District.

 

Visitors should follow proper temple etiquette. Dress modestly, keep voices low around the chedi, do not climb on or touch the sacred structure, and avoid placing personal items on the enclosing wall or inappropriate areas. Photography should be done respectfully. During festival periods, visitors should follow the guidance of temple committees or local staff so that participation in the ceremony remains orderly and respectful.

 

For photography, the temple offers several good angles, including the full view of the chedi from the courtyard, the 4 directional niches, the colored glass decoration, the subsidiary chedis, and the hilltop atmosphere. Morning and late afternoon are suitable times because the light is softer and helps reveal the details of the chedi more clearly. Visitors should avoid taking photos in a way that disturbs worshippers or interrupts religious rituals.

 

Wat Phra That Khing Kaeng is suitable for several types of visitors: pilgrims seeking blessings, travelers interested in Lanna chedis, people exploring Chun District, and those who want to experience Phayao outside the main city. Its strengths are its accessibility, beautiful chedi, peaceful setting, and annual tradition that reflects strong community faith. For a half-day trip in Chun District, this temple is one of the most meaningful places to include.

 

In the community context, Wat Phra That Khing Kaeng is a place that brings local people together, especially during the annual chedi bathing ceremony. Families return to make merit, meet relatives, help prepare the event, and participate in rituals. Through these activities, the temple becomes a place of shared memory. One generation passes faith to the next by bringing children and younger relatives to pay respect to the chedi and join the annual merit-making tradition.

 

Phra That Khing Kaeng is therefore a symbol of cultural continuity in Chun District. The chedi on the hill connects past and present. People in earlier generations built, maintained, and revered it, while people today continue to worship, bathe, wrap, and care for it through annual tradition. A visit to the temple reveals that Buddhism in northern Thailand is not only preserved in texts, but also in rituals, sacred places, and the cooperation of local communities.

 

For travelers who want to understand Phayao beyond Kwan Phayao and city temples, Wat Phra That Khing Kaeng deserves time and attention. It shows another side of the province: small district towns, rural communities, inter-district routes, old temples, and sacred chedis still actively cared for by local people. The beauty of the temple lies not only in the form of the chedi, but also in the calmness of the grounds, the devotion of worshippers, and the continuity of local tradition.

 

In summary, Wat Phra That Khing Kaeng in Phayao Province is an old temple and an important sacred chedi site of Chun District. Its highlight is the large Lanna-style chedi with a base measuring about 15 meters on each side and a height of about 20 meters. The chedi has Buddha images in 4 directional niches, colored glass decoration on the middle section, an enclosing wall, and 4 subsidiary chedis at the corners. Set on a peaceful hill with spacious grounds, the temple is ideal for paying respect, admiring Lanna architecture, and experiencing the Phra That Khing Kaeng bathing ceremony, which reflects the strong faith of the Chun community.

 

 

A: Wat Phra That Khing Kaeng is located in Phra That Khing Kaeng Subdistrict, Chun District, Phayao Province, along Highway 1091 on the Chun–Pong route, about 8 km from Chun District town.

 

A: The temple is known for its large Lanna-style chedi, with a base about 15 meters wide on each side and a height of about 20 meters, featuring 4 directional niches, colored glass decoration, an enclosing wall, and 4 subsidiary chedis.

 

A: From Chun District, take Highway 1091 on the Chun–Pong route. Before Ban That Khing School, turn right into the temple road for about 200 meters. The temple is on the left-hand side.

 

A: Phra That Khing Kaeng is a Lanna-style chedi with a square base, 4 directional niches, Buddha images in the niches, colored glass decoration on the middle section, an enclosing wall, and 4 subsidiary chedis at the corners.

 

A: The most important tradition is the Phra That Khing Kaeng bathing ceremony, which includes bathing the chedi, wrapping it with sacred cloth, making merit, listening to sermons, and local religious activities.

 

A: No. Admission is free, but visitors should dress respectfully, keep the temple quiet, and contact the temple directly before entering important interior areas.

 

A: The abbot of Wat Phra That Khing Kaeng is Phra Khru Nipun Phatthanakit.

 

A: Nearby places include Chun District town, Wat Phra That Sam Duang, Wiang Lo Ancient Town, Wat Si Ping Mueang, Wat Phra That Sop Waen, Doi Phu Langka, and Phu Langka Forest Park.