Wat Phra Borommathat Thung Yang

Wat Phra Borommathat Thung Yang is the ancient relic temple of Mueang Thung Yang, a fortified town on the site before the Sukhothai kingdom existed — it was originally known as Wat Mahathat. The temple sits in Thung Yang subdistrict, Laplae district, on Highway 102 between Uttaradit town and Laplae. Entry is free, open daily roughly 08:00–17:00.

The chedi behind the wihan is the temple’s centrepiece: a round, bell-shaped stupa built in the Sri Lanka-influenced style on a square, three-tiered base. Small satellite stupas mark the four corners of the lowest tier, and the third tier has an arched niche on each side — a detail that suggests later restoration work rather than a single build. Local tradition holds that the stupa enshrines the Urangkhathat, a chest-bone relic of the Buddha, which is why the temple carries “Phra Borommathat” (royal relic) in its name rather than just “Wat.”

In front of the chedi stands a Lanna-style wihan with a three-tiered roof, housing the principal Buddha image, Luang Pho Prathan Thao — a Chiang Saen-style figure in the Mara-subduing posture. Murals on the wihan’s interior walls depict the Phra Sang Thong story, a Thai folk epic, alongside other Buddhist legends tied to the site, including accounts of the Buddha’s own visit to the area.

Insider Tip: Come in the early morning if you want to see monks collecting alms in Ban Thung Yang village outside the temple gate — it’s a working community rite, not a staged tourist show.

Watch out: This is an active temple, so cover shoulders and knees, remove your shoes before entering the wihan, and keep pointed feet away from the Buddha images.

The temple pairs naturally with Chao Fah Ham Kuman Monument, Laplae’s hilltop founder statue, and the durian orchards at Mon Lub Lae — both a short drive away in the same district. There’s no public transport directly to the gate; a car or motorbike from Uttaradit town or Laplae is the practical route.