About Phra That Si Song Rak
Phra That Si Song Rak is a historic Buddhist stupa in Dan Sai District, Loei Province, northeastern Thailand, located on the bank of the Man River. Built in 1560 to commemorate an alliance between the Ayutthaya and Lan Xang kingdoms, it features a distinctive Lao-style brick chedi. Revered locally, the monument is a cultural landmark and focal point of the annual Phi Ta Khon festival, attracting visitors for its architecture, history and religious significance.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a large, whitewashed Lao-style brick chedi set in a spacious, open temple compound on the Man River in central Dan Sai. The stupa is surrounded by a paved courtyard, prayer areas, and smaller shrines. The site is tranquil and well-maintained, with interpretive signs, souvenir stalls and views of the surrounding town. Visitors can walk around the base of the chedi, observe merit-making activities, and explore the adjacent grounds and museum area.
Key highlights
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Historic Lao-style chedi built in 1560 as a symbol of friendship between two kingdoms
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Sacred Buddhist stupa revered by local communities on both sides of the Thai-Lao border
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Distinctive architecture with 19-meter high brick structure and square base
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Central venue for the annual Phi Ta Khon ghost festival in Dan Sai
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Riverside location on the Man River in the center of Dan Sai town
History of Phra That Si Song Rak
Constructed in 1560 during the reign of King Maha Chakkraphat of Ayutthaya and King Setthathirath of Lan Xang to commemorate their alliance and friendship. The chedi was built on the border between the two kingdoms and has been restored several times, remaining an important historic marker of 16th-century relations in the region.
Culture & Context
Highly revered Buddhist monument believed to enshrine relics of the Buddha. Local tradition holds the site as sacred and protective of Dan Sai. It is central to community identity and the annual Phi Ta Khon festival, when merit-making ceremonies and processions are held. Customary beliefs include avoiding the color red when visiting.
Route
| By air |
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