Wat Sao Hin

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.00 – 17.00

 

Wat Sao Hin in Uttaradit Province is an old Buddhist temple closely connected with the local community of Laplae District. The temple is located at 183 Si Phanommat Road, Ban Talat Laplae, Si Phanommat Subdistrict, Laplae District, Uttaradit Province. It is a private Buddhist temple under the Maha Nikaya order and was established in 1634 CE, or 2177 BE, during the Ayutthaya period. The temple has also received its consecrated boundary, allowing it to serve as a complete religious site for important Buddhist ceremonies.

 

Wat Sao Hin is a meaningful destination for travelers who want to experience a quiet local temple, learn about the history of Laplae, and understand the role of temples in Thai community life. The temple is not designed as a grand tourist attraction; instead, its value lies in its age, its connection with the people of Si Phanommat, and its continuous function as a center for merit-making, chanting, ordination, Buddhist ceremonies, and local community gatherings.

 

The temple was formerly known as Wat Fai Hin. This old name reflects the surrounding landscape and the way local people once identified the temple through nearby natural features and waterways. Over time, the temple became widely known as Wat Sao Hin, a name associated with one of its distinctive local characteristics. The transition from the old name to the current name shows how place names in Thai communities often preserve layers of local memory, geography, and religious identity.

 

Because Wat Sao Hin dates back to the Ayutthaya period, it represents one of the long-standing religious roots of Laplae. Laplae is known for its old communities, local legends, traditional food, and temples that continue to shape daily life. Wat Sao Hin should therefore be understood not only as a place of worship but also as part of the cultural landscape of old Laplae. It reflects how Buddhism, settlement, and local identity have developed together over many generations.

 

The temple’s consecrated boundary is especially important in Buddhist tradition. A temple with a consecrated boundary can perform formal monastic acts such as ordination and other Sangha ceremonies. This makes Wat Sao Hin more than a simple local shrine. It is a complete Buddhist institution that has long supported both monks and laypeople in the surrounding community.

 

Inside the temple grounds, visitors can find an ordination hall, sermon hall, viharn, monks’ residences, and areas for community religious activities. These spaces support the daily life of the temple and the spiritual life of the local people. The ordination hall serves formal monastic ceremonies, the sermon hall is used for merit-making and Dhamma listening, and the temple courtyard becomes a gathering space during community events and Buddhist holy days.

 

Wat Sao Hin remains important to local residents of Si Phanommat and Laplae. People come to the temple to make merit, listen to sermons, participate in Buddhist holy days, and join community traditions. The temple is especially active during major Buddhist occasions such as Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asalha Bucha, Buddhist Lent, and the end of Buddhist Lent. It also supports local ceremonies, family merit-making, memorial rituals, and traditional community events.

 

The temple is also associated with Phra Khru Siri Kit Withan, or Manat Sirimangkhalo, a former ecclesiastical leader of Laplae District and former abbot of Wat Sao Hin. He played an important role in the religious life of the temple and the wider monastic community of Laplae. His contribution remains part of the temple’s modern history and the memory of the local community.

 

For travelers, Wat Sao Hin is a good stop for a calm temple visit in Laplae. It can be combined with nearby attractions such as Laplae Gate, Laplae Museum, Laplae Market, Wat Phra Borommathat Thung Yang, and Wat Phra Thaen Sila At. This route allows visitors to experience old temples, local history, traditional food, and the atmosphere of a small northern lower Thai town in one trip.

 

A visit to Wat Sao Hin should be slow and respectful. Visitors can begin by paying respect inside the ordination hall or viharn, then walk quietly around the temple grounds to observe the sermon hall, monks’ quarters, and community activity areas. The temple is best appreciated not through grand architecture alone, but through its function as a living religious and social center of Laplae.

 

Getting There is convenient by private car from Uttaradit city. Travelers can drive toward Laplae District and continue to Si Phanommat Subdistrict. The temple is located in Ban Talat Laplae on Si Phanommat Road. It can also be reached by local hired transport from Uttaradit city or from the Laplae area. Visitors who plan to see several places in one day may find a private car or hired vehicle more convenient.

 

A recommended route is to begin with Wat Sao Hin, then continue to Laplae Gate and Laplae Museum before visiting Wat Phra Borommathat Thung Yang, Wat Phra Yuen Phutthabat Yukhon, and Wat Phra Thaen Sila At. Travelers can also stop for local Laplae food such as khao phan phak, mee phan, and other local dishes around the old town and market area.

 

Visitors should dress modestly, speak quietly, and respect monks, local worshippers, and sacred spaces. Since Wat Sao Hin is an active community temple, visitors should avoid disturbing ceremonies or private religious activities. Photography should be done with care, especially around worship areas and during local events.

 

Overall, Wat Sao Hin is a worthwhile place to visit for travelers interested in old temples, local history, and the cultural identity of Laplae. Its Ayutthaya-period origin, former name Wat Fai Hin, consecrated boundary, and continuing role in the community make it a meaningful temple rather than just a sightseeing stop. It offers a quiet and authentic view of Buddhist life in Uttaradit Province.

 

 

A: Wat Sao Hin is located at 183 Si Phanommat Road, Ban Talat Laplae, Si Phanommat Subdistrict, Laplae District, Uttaradit Province.

 

A: Wat Sao Hin was established in 1634 CE, or 2177 BE, during the Ayutthaya period.

 

A: The temple was formerly known as Wat Fai Hin, a name connected with the local landscape and the Fai Hin area.

 

A: It is an old Maha Nikaya temple with a consecrated boundary and has long served as a religious and community center of Laplae.

 

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

 

A: Travelers can drive from Uttaradit city toward Laplae District and continue to Si Phanommat Subdistrict. The temple is located in Ban Talat Laplae on Si Phanommat Road.

 

A: Nearby places include Laplae Gate, Laplae Museum, Laplae Market, Wat Phra Borommathat Thung Yang, and Wat Phra Thaen Sila At.

 

A: Wat Sao Hin is suitable for travelers interested in old temples, local history, Laplae culture, and quiet Buddhist community sites in Uttaradit.