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Opening Hours: 06:00 – 18:00

 

Wat Phra Thaen Dong Rang Worawihan is located in Tha Maka District, Kanchanaburi Province. It is a third-class royal monastery (Worawihan) and one of the most historically significant ancient temples in the province, notable for its importance in Buddhist history, religious legend, and Thai literary heritage. The temple enshrines the “Phra Thaen Dong Rang,” a highly revered sacred monument that has long been respected by Buddhists and is regarded as one of the most prominent centers of faith in Kanchanaburi.

 

The geographical setting of Wat Phra Thaen Dong Rang Worawihan lies on flat terrain with a peaceful and shady atmosphere, making it suitable for religious ceremonies and meditation practice. From Bangkok, visitors can travel along Highway No. 323. Upon reaching Tha Ruea Market junction, turn right onto Highway No. 3081. Between kilometers 9–10, the entrance to Wat Phra Thaen Dong Rang Worawihan is clearly visible. This route has been commonly used since ancient times.

 

Wat Phra Thaen Dong Rang Worawihan is an ancient temple whose exact date of construction remains unknown. However, based on historical evidence and academic assumptions, it is believed that the temple was established around the time when the sacred site of Phra Thaen Dong Rang was discovered during the reign of King Borommakot of the Ayutthaya period, an era marked by the revival and strong emphasis on important Buddhist sacred places.

 

Phra Thaen Dong Rang is a large stone platform, constructed as a solid block of stone with a gently sloping surface resembling a bed or couch. According to later legends created to inspire religious devotion, this platform is believed to be the sacred resting place where the Buddha attained Parinirvana, or a symbolic replica commemorating the Buddha’s Parinirvana at Salavana Grove in India. Although academically regarded as a symbolic structure, in terms of faith, Phra Thaen Dong Rang holds profound spiritual meaning for Buddhists.

 

In the past, there were two rang trees growing on either side of the stone platform, their branches leaning toward each other. This natural feature gave rise to the name “Phra Thaen Dong Rang,” with the term “Dong Rang” referring to a grove or forest of rang trees that once grew densely in the area. The image of the stone platform embraced by rang trees became a powerful symbol of faith, remembered and passed down among local villagers and pilgrims.

 

Within the grounds of Wat Phra Thaen Dong Rang Worawihan, there are several ancient structures and sacred sites associated with Buddhist history. These include the Mouth-Rinsing Pond, believed to symbolically represent an event in the Buddha’s life, and the Viharn of Phra Ananda, built to commemorate the Buddha’s closest disciple. Other ancient structures within the temple further reflect the efforts of people in the past to connect Buddhist history with this sacred landscape.

 

The temple also holds literary significance, as it is mentioned in “Nirat Phra Thaen Dong Rang,” a classical travel poem by Samnen Klang, who journeyed to worship Phra Thaen Dong Rang together with Sunthorn Phu in the year 1833. This literary work not only records the journey and atmosphere of the place but also highlights the importance of Wat Phra Thaen Dong Rang in Thai society during the early Rattanakosin period.

 

Later, His Majesty the King graciously granted royal permission to elevate Wat Phra Thaen Dong Rang to the status of a third-class royal monastery (Worawihan) in order to commemorate the royal ceremony establishing the Crown Prince of Siam. This elevation reaffirmed the national importance of the temple and further strengthened its role as a major center of Buddhist faith.

 

Each year, around the middle of the fourth lunar month in the Thai calendar, Wat Phra Thaen Dong Rang Worawihan hosts a grand annual worship festival honoring Phra Thaen Dong Rang. Buddhists from across the country gather to pay homage, make merit, and participate in religious activities. This annual event not only preserves religious tradition but also unites the faith of local communities and visitors from many regions.

 

Getting There Wat Phra Thaen Dong Rang Worawihan is easily accessible by private vehicle. From Bangkok, take Highway No. 323 toward Kanchanaburi Province. At Tha Ruea Market junction, turn right onto Highway No. 3081 and continue driving until approximately kilometers 9–10, where the clearly marked entrance to Wat Phra Thaen Dong Rang Worawihan can be found.

 

 

A: It is a sacred stone platform built as a symbolic monument representing the Buddha’s Parinirvana.

 

A: The exact construction date is unknown, but it is believed to date back to the late Ayutthaya period.

 

A: It appears in “Nirat Phra Thaen Dong Rang” by Samnen Klang and is associated with Sunthorn Phu.

 

A: It is held every year around the middle of the fourth lunar month in the Thai calendar.

 

A: It is suitable for religious, historical, and literary tourism.