Boonnak Temple

Wat Pa Daeng Boonnak is a forest temple (wat pa) on the western edge of Mueang Phayao, built from two Sukhothai-era temples — Wat Pa Daeng and Wat Bunnak — that have since merged into a single compound. Entry is free, and it sees few foreign visitors compared with Phayao’s lakeside attractions.

Experience

The site’s centrepiece is a pair of weathered chedis, one from each of the original temples, both with a distinctive twelve-sided base in the Sukhothai style. Local history attributes them to two brothers who once ruled Phayao: the elder, Chao Athitcharat, built the chedi at Wat Pa Daeng, and the younger, Chao Chantarat, built the one at Wat Bunnak — reportedly on the same day. Each chedi is said to enshrine a relic, one holding a right ear-bone relic and the other a left, a detail specific enough that it’s stuck in local record-keeping for centuries. Beyond the two main chedis, surveys of the grounds have logged foundations from roughly 25 other ancient structures — old ordination hall bases, wall fragments, and Buddha image pedestals scattered among the trees.

Atmosphere & Timing

Shade from mature trees and a near-total absence of crowds give the compound a quiet, contemplative feel rare for a site this historically dense. There’s no ticket booth, no gift shop, and often nobody else around outside of merit-making days.

Insider Tip: Combine the visit with Kwan Phayao — both sit close to Mueang Phayao town and make an easy half-day loop.

Watch out: Most of what remains is foundations and chedi bases rather than intact halls — go in expecting an archaeological site, not a working temple with active ceremonies.

Practical

Boonnak Temple is a short drive from central Phayao. View on Google Maps. Dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered) and keep your head below any Buddha image when seated — the site is still an active place of worship for the local community even though it draws few outside visitors.