Wat Huay Sai Khao

If Disneyland added a Buddhist temple it would look like this, but Wat Huay Sai Khao is a functioning religious site, with visiting school parties adding to an overall ‘Buddhism can be fun’ kind of atmosphere. All the vivid stupas and shrines have full public access and local kids seemed to be having a great time running around and playing hide and seek on the various staircases, different levels, viewing points and corridors under the watchful eyes of smiling teachers and grinning monks. Without intending to be sacrilegious there’s a definite playground feel here though we reckon that’s intentional.

It’s all very new so the entire colour pallet covering the fantastical range of stupas, chedis, shrines and halls is bright, sharp and clean and the various sculptures liberally dotted around – while very modern – did seem generally orthodox at least in subject if not execution.

The temple complex covers only a small area but with a huge amount of content squeezed into the grounds. There’s what appears to be an original main worshipping hall, classic in design and housing a seated Buddha image around which are crammed the results of the current abbot’s serious blood rush. We reckon it’s all too much fun and way too impressive to be tritely described as kitsch and the grins on both the kids’ and monks’ faces was wonderful to behold.

This is a brilliant spot and there’s even a couple of other sites in the immediate vicinity to take in so you could make a fine half day tour including Wat Rong Khun, Wat Huay Sai Khao and some hot springs of the same name lying on the opposite side of the Phayao highway. The springs aren’t really worth a visit on their own but you can test the waters and get a drink or snack after the temple while continuing south another 10 kilometres or so will see you in the small, but bustling, market town of Phan. Phan has a huge municipal market plus a lively weekly Thursday market as well as a large hill-top reclining Buddha so makes an interesting lunch stop if you’re in the area.

Wat Huay Sai Khao is roughly 22 kilometres south of Wat Rong Khun on route number 1 so a bit short of 40 in total from Chiang Rai. The temple is on the west side of the highway, the hot springs on the east and Phan Town another 10 or so south. Inter-city, Phayao or Lampang buses or local Phan bound transport from Chiang Rai will drop you and pick you up right outside the temple so you don’t even need to hire transport.

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By Mark Ord .

Wat Huay Sai Khao
Daily 08:00 to 18:00
Admission: By donation

Location map for Wat Huay Sai Khao