Uthai Thani Wats & Temples

Uthai Thani Province

Wat Uposatharam (Wat Bot Manorom)

Wat Uposatharam formerly named Wat Bot Manorom, is sometimes called Wat Bot. It is an old temple on the Sakae Krang Riverside, on Ko Thepho, in the Mueang Municipality area. From the municipal fresh market, cross the bridge to the temple which is on the east side of the river. The interesting things to see include mural paintings in the ordination hall and wihan, which were made in the early Rattanakosin era. The paintings in the ordination hall were elaborately made, depicting the biography of Lord Buddha from the time when he was born until he died. In the wihan, there are paintings of Lord Buddha, preaching to gods in Heaven and the scene when he was resolving to enter nirvana. On the upper part of the wall, there is a picture of a gathering of monks, switching with Phat Yot, a long-handled fan of an ecelesiastical rank, which seems to show respect to the principal Buddha image. On the outside wall in front of the wihan, there is a picture of Lord Buddha’s cremation and the picture of villagers’ ways of life along the Buddhist concepts. It is believed to have been made by craftsmen of a later time. In addition, inside Wat Uposatharam, there are other interesting things to see, such as Sema, a leaf-like boundary sign made of red stone, in front of the ordination hall, a cabinet to keep Buddhist scriptures and a storage closet painted with the floral Kanok vine pattern. In addition, there is a Bat, a monk alms-bowl, with the lid decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay which was given by King Rama V and made by Chang Sip Mu (the Ten Departments of Craftsmen), as well as a Hong - Hamsa or Swan - on top of the column. There are also many attractive forms of architecture to visit such as the Octagonal Mondop which is a combination of the Western and Thai styles and has a decoration made of stucco, looking like climbing plants on the window frames; a high-relief cement Buddha image which is situated outside the building; three chedis of 3 periods comprising hexagonal chedi of the Ayutthaya period, a chedi with twelve angles of the Rattanakosin period, and a bell-shaped chedi of the Sukhothai period; Uthai Phutthasapha Conference Hall which is a pavilion in a typical Thai style, used as a praying hall, having a gable with stucco relief decoration; and Phae Bot Nam, a floating ordination hall in front of the temple which was built to receive King Rama V when he visited the North Circle in 1906. It was formerly a twin raft-house with Cho Fa - a gable apex, and Bai Raka - a leaf-shaped roof-edging, like other ordination halls. On the gable, there is a circle with Pali scripts reading “Su Agata Te Maha Raja” which means Maha Raja - great king - comes well. Later, in 1976, it was repaired to be one 2-storeyed building, including a raised platform, with a hip roof. The circle was moved to place in the middle of the gable. This Phae Bot Nam is used in religious rites such as weddings, ordinations, funerals, and various merit-making occasions.

Wat Mani Sathit Kapittharam

Wat Mani Sathit Kapittharam is located on Sunthon Sathit Road, behind the health garden, at the Clock Tower Circle. This temple was constructed in the Rattanakosin period, and local people call it Wat Thung Kaeo. Inside the temple, there is a large five-pinnacled prang, with a width of 8 metres and a height of 16 metres, which was built in 1909. The prang contains the relics of Lord Buddha and the image of Luangpho Yaem who constructed this temple. In the area of the temple, there is a large holy water pool made of bricks and a stone tablet with magic scripts of Luangpho Yaem located in the middle of the pool. Its water was once used to bathe the king in the coronation ceremony of King Rama VI and King Rama VII.

Wat Thammakhosok

Wat Thammakhosok or called “Wat Rong Kho” by villagers was built in the early Rattanakosin period. It is on Si Uthai Road, Tambon Uthai Mai in the municipality. It was used to hold rites by Uthai Thani government officials to pledge allegiance to the king as well as an execution site. The most interesting places in the temple are the chapel and the main Buddha image hall. The chapel is of the Rattanakosin period. A tiled roof covers the building. The Buddha image here is highly sacred. There are beautiful murals inside, the works of late Ayutthaya artists. The main hall is a larger building that is higher than the chapel. A pedestal inside has around 20 Buddha images on it. The outer windowpanes have plaster drawings of the epic Ramayana as frames. The doors have wooden floral patterns painted in bright red.

Wat Tha Sung

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95xYzWrvtzo

Wat Tha Sung (another name is Wat Chantharam) is at Mu 2, Tambon Nam Sum. It is an old temple from the Ayutthaya period. It was formerly called “Wat Chan” which is the name of an abbot. Wat Chantharam later was abandoned until 1789 when the monk Luang Pho Yai came here. Villagers asked him to become the abbot of the temple and he renovated it. The first location of the temple was on the bank of Sakae Krang River. The artifact of the place is a pulpit built by Luang Pho Yai that is opposite the temple. More buildings were later added by the monk Phra Ratchaphrom Yan Nen (Luang Pho Ruesi Ling Dam). The new convocation hall is beautiful with an ornately decorated interior. The inner windows and doors have pictures of angels. His Majesty the King presided over a ceremony to officially open the building. Surronding the building is a traditional columned wall. Images of Luang Pho Pan and Luang Pho Yai 3 times the actual size is at the corner of the front wall. Furthermore, the new site has a wide area as well as many pavilions with accommodation for meditation. The main hall is open during 09.00-11.45 hrs. and 14.00-16.00 hrs. daily.

Getting There: From the city, take Road No. 3265 to the ferry at Amphoe Manorom, about 6 kilometres away. Wat Than Sung is on both sides.

Wat Khao Wong

Wat Khao Wong is a temple in a valley. It has a beautiful two-storey Thai-style convocation hall. The area has been exquisitely landscaped. The monastery is the 13th of 19 branches of Wat Sangkhathan in Nonthaburi that are in places such as Chiang Mai, Um Phang, the United Kingdom, and India. The monastery was built in 1987 and has a total area of 320,000 square metres. The surrounding area is mountain and forest.

The most striking feature of Khao Wong Monastery is the 4-storey Thai-style multi-purpose pavilion. Built almost entirely of wood, the pavilion has a pond in front with many fish. Around the pond is a garden of colourful flowers. The wood used in the pavilion’s construction was donated by locals and has been transformed into a work of architecture that retains natural qualities. The monastery has a monthly meditation class for those who are interested.

Getting There: Use the same route as Phu Wai Cave. It is about 3 kilometres before reaching the cave (there is a cooperative store selling souvenirs and free accommodation for up to 200 persons).

Wat Nong Khun Chat, Nong Chang

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X6BpV81gik

Wat Sankat Rattana Khiri - Buddha Relics & Footprint

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6BT_fJgj78