Wat Pa Sak, located just outside of Chiang Saen’s city walls, was built by King Saen Phu in the early 14th century. The name of the temple refers to a forest of teak trees that he planted at the time. The site is still surrounded today by a shady teak grove.
Wat Pa Sak is interesting for its brick chedi, which features standing Buddhas in niches and ornamental stucco artwork. Apart from the foundations of other buildings, this is all that remains of the temple, yet this chedi is one of the finest examples of northern Thai (Lanna) architecture in Chiang Rai Province. If you wander north of Wat Pa Sak, you’ll find the foundations of other temples too.
This site has undergone an extensive restoration by the Fine Arts Department and thus entails an entrance fee of 50 baht.
Getting There
Take a songthaew from the town center or hire a bicycle or motorbike and drive yourself.
Need to Know
- What is it? One of the oldest temples in Chiang Saen.
- Opening hours: 08:00-18:00, daily.
- Entrance fees: 50 baht.
- Address: Just north of Chiang Saen’s western gate in the old city walls.
- Where: about a kilometer west of Chiang Saen city center.