Wat Sai Khao

Wat Sai Khao is a working Buddhist monastery in Pattani’s Khok Pho district, founded in 1757 and granted formal royal recognition (wisungkhamsima) in 1889. It’s open daily, free to enter, and functions as the parish temple for Sai Khao sub-district rather than a restored tourist site.

History

A settler family, led by a benefactor recorded as Tan Pakdee Chumpol, donated their land and residence to found the temple in B.E. 2300 (1757). The wat received its wisungkhamsima designation — the formal royal boundary marking that confers full monastic status — on 30 July 1889. Around 1920 the temple grounds were also used to open a village school, a role many rural Thai temples played before state schools reached every district.

What’s There

The compound holds an ordination hall (ubosot), a vihara enshrining a marble four-faced Buddha image, monks’ quarters, and a chedi and mondop honouring a former abbot, Phra Khru Tham Kitkosol, still revered by residents of Sai Khao and the surrounding sub-districts. The sacred boundary itself runs roughly 204 by 230 metres, modest compared to Bangkok’s major temples but typical for a working district monastery.

Atmosphere and Timing

This is a functioning community temple, not a curated attraction — expect monks going about daily chanting and study rather than a tour circuit. Early morning (soon after the 08:00 opening) is quietest, before local devotees arrive to make merit later in the day.

Insider Tip: Sai Khao sub-district is also known locally for its durian orchards — if you’re visiting during the April-June harvest, look for roadside stalls selling Sai Khao durian on the way in.

Watch out: This is an active monastery in a Muslim-majority province — dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered) and keep voices low around the ordination hall regardless of what day you visit.

Practical

Nearby, Ban Sai Khao Tourism Community and Namtok Sai Khao National Park share the same sub-district and district, making an easy combined stop. See the Pattani guide for more of the province.