Wat Pa Hiang

Wat Pa Hiang’s standout feature is its ho trai — the scripture library — a small, entirely wooden building in Mae Raeng subdistrict, Lamphun’s Pa Sang district. Carved doors and window frames, railings patterned with vines and flowers, and a roofline finished in peacock-tail wood carving with inlaid coloured glass mark it as Lanna craftsmanship rather than the more common central-Thai temple style found elsewhere in the country. The Fine Arts Department registered the ho trai as a national historic monument in the Royal Gazette on 24 July 1990.

Temple records date the founding to 1877, though local tradition also describes an earlier reconstruction after Buddha images and gilded fragments were found overgrown with vines on the site. The temple fell into disrepair at some point after its founding and was restored under a monk remembered as Khruba Tham Panyo — a pattern common to many Lanna-era temples in the district, where active restoration followed periods of neglect.

Pa Sang district is known more broadly for cotton weaving and a cluster of smaller Lanna temples, and Wat Pa Hiang sits within easy reach of several of them on rural roads near Wat Pa Sang Ngam. It functions as a working community temple rather than a museum piece, so expect ordinary temple activity — merit-making, occasional ceremonies — alongside the historic building.

Insider Tip: The ho trai is a single small structure, not a temple-wide feature — ask locally or look for temple signage pointing to it specifically rather than assuming it’s the main viharn.

Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, and remove your shoes before entering any building. There’s no set entry fee or gate; a small donation toward the temple’s upkeep is appreciated but not required.

Nearby in Pa Sang district: Wat Pa Sang Ngam and Wat Nong Ngueak. Wider trip planning for the province is on the Lamphun hub page.