Wat Pa Sak

Wat Pa Sak is a historic Buddhist temple located just outside the ancient walled city of Chiang Saen in Wiang Subdistrict, Chiang Rai Province, northern Thailand. Built in the 14th century during the Lanna period by King Saen Phu, it is renowned for its well-preserved chedi adorned with intricate stucco work. Set among teak trees, the temple is an important archaeological site reflecting early Lanna architecture and Chiang Saen's heritage.

Visitors can expect a tranquil archaeological temple complex set in a former teak forest outside Chiang Saen's old city walls. The central attraction is a large, stepped chedi with detailed stucco Buddha images and floral motifs, surrounded by ruins of viharn foundations, smaller chedis and ancient brick walls. The site is open-air, shaded by trees, with pathways for walking, viewing and photography of Lanna architecture and historic stonework.

Wat Pa Sak was built in the 14th century by King Saen Phu, grandson of King Mangrai and founder of Chiang Saen, to enshrine relics and commemorate the founding of the city. Constructed around 1295-1341 during the early Lanna Kingdom, it is one of the oldest and most significant temples in Chiang Saen. The chedi shows Sukhothai and Lanna influences and was built in a former teak forest, giving the temple its name meaning Temple of the Teak Forest.

Wat Pa Sak is a revered Buddhist archaeological site representing early Lanna religious art and architecture. Its stucco-decorated chedi is considered a masterpiece of Lanna craftsmanship and reflects the spread of Theravada Buddhism in northern Thailand. The temple remains a cultural landmark for understanding Chiang Saen's role as an early capital of the Lanna Kingdom.