Chom Chan Temple

Wat Phra That Chom Chan crowns a small hill in Ban Chom Chan village, San Sai subdistrict, Mae Chan district — reached by a naga staircase rather than a paved forecourt. Phra Khru Baithip, abbot of nearby Wat Ban Laew, built the chedi here in 1915. Villagers added the vihara, monks’ quarters, and sala a decade later, in 1925, at which point the site was formally established as a temple in its own right.

The chedi itself is a five-tier bell-shaped stupa rising to a slender spire — a form shared with dozens of older chedis scattered across Chiang Rai province, rather than a design unique to this site. From the hilltop platform the ground opens onto views over the rice fields and villages of San Sai subdistrict. Unlike the temples that draw coach parties through central Chiang Rai, Chom Chan functions first as the working place of worship for San Sai and its neighbouring subdistricts — merit-making here is a local routine, not a staged show.

Insider Tip: Turn up on a Buddhist holy day (wan phra) if you want to see the temple busiest with local devotees rather than empty in the middle of a weekday afternoon.

Entry is free, in keeping with its role as a village temple rather than a tourist attraction. There’s no scheduled public transport, so getting here means driving, riding a motorbike, or hiring a songthaew off the main road through Mae Chan — the hill road itself is paved but narrow in places. Cover your shoulders and knees and take your shoes off before stepping onto the chedi platform, as you would at any Thai temple.

Watch out: Chom Chan isn’t set up for tourism — there’s no shop, no English signage, and no guide on site, so this suits travellers happy to explore quietly rather than those wanting a curated visit. Nearby Wat Huay Pla Kang and Phra That Doi Pu Khao are better bets if you want facilities and English information alongside the sightseeing.