Wat Na Phrathat

Wat Na Phrathat stands on the eastern bank of the Nan River in Ban Na Phrathat, Phichai district, Uttaradit — one of the older and more venerated religious sites in the province. By local tradition the temple traces its origins to around the 10th century, when the ruling lord is said to have commissioned the principal Buddha image that remains the heart of the complex today.

That image — Luang Pho To — is the reason pilgrims travel here. Seated in a lotus position with a lap-width of about six metres, the gilded figure occupies a five-spired cruciform sanctuary named Prasat Phra Nawamrajabopit, a name granted by royal decree under King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The building, roughly nine metres wide, 26 metres long and tall in proportion, is the only structure of this form in Uttaradit province. Inside, alongside Luang Pho To, sit a Buddha’s footprint replica and a collection of relics.

A separate chedi on the grounds is said to enshrine genuine Buddha relics, adding to the temple’s importance for the surrounding Phichai community. Resident monks maintain it as a fully active place of worship, and each February the grounds host Ngan Nop Luang Pho To, an annual merit-making festival that draws devotees from across the province.

Dress modestly with covered shoulders and knees. The temple is freely accessible and sits in the old town of Phichai, reachable by road from Uttaradit city about 35 km to the north.