Wat Phra Thaen Sila At

Wat Phra Thaen Sila At sits on Khao Tao hill in Laplae district, Uttaradit, built around the Phra Thaen Sila At — a laterite platform roughly 8 feet wide and 10 feet long, believed since ancient times to be a seat where the Buddha sat to meditate. Entry is free and it’s open daily 08:00–17:00.

Originally named Wat Mahathat, the temple’s founding predates written record but likely reaches back to the Sukhothai period. In 1756, King Borommakot of Ayutthaya donated a set of carved teak door panels for the wihan — the same panels originally made for the vihara of the Phra Buddha Chinnarat image at Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat in Phitsanulok. The laterite platform itself sits beneath a gilded, Lanna-style mondop inside the wihan, its base ringed with carved lotus-petal patterns. Wall paintings inside depict royal ceremonies of the Chakri Dynasty.

A forest fire on 25 March 1908 destroyed most of the compound, sparing only the kuti that housed the Luang Pho Thammachak Buddha image; King Rama V funded the rebuilding that followed. The temple was elevated to Third-Class Royal Monastery status (Thammayut sect) in 2006. Its annual homage fair runs from the 8th waxing moon through the full moon of the third lunar month, drawing pilgrims from across the North to pay respects to the stone throne — expect the approach road to fill with market stalls during that week.

A two-storey folk museum inside the compound, built in Lanna style from wood, displays local tools, basketry, and Buddha images from the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods alongside everyday artefacts from the Laplae area, with a herb garden in front.

Insider Tip: Combine the visit with Wat Phra Yun Phutthabat Yukhon next door, home to a standing Buddha footprint shrine — the two temples share the same hillside and can be seen together in under an hour.

Watch out: during the Makha Bucha fair week, parking and the narrow approach road get crowded fast — visit outside the festival for a quieter look at the laterite platform itself.

The temple is at 84 Mu 6, Thung Yang Road, with free parking on site. Dress modestly — cover shoulders and knees — and remove your shoes before entering the wihan.