Wat Pha Kho

Wat Pha Kho is a historic Theravada Buddhist temple located in Chumphon Subdistrict, Sathing Phra District, Songkhla Province, on the Sathing Phra Peninsula between Songkhla Lake and the Gulf of Thailand. It is renowned as the temple associated with Luang Pu Thuat, a revered monk believed to have studied and resided here. The temple features a chedi, vihara, Luang Pu Thuat museum and statues, and remains an important pilgrimage site in southern Thailand.

Visitors can expect a traditional southern Thai temple compound with an ordination hall, vihara, historic chedi, large Luang Pu Thuat statues, and a small museum displaying artifacts and votive objects. The grounds are open and quiet, set in a rural village environment near Songkhla Lake. Visitors can walk around the courtyard, view religious art and architecture, pay respect, and observe local merit-making activities.

Wat Pha Kho is believed to date to the Ayutthaya period and is historically significant as the temple where Luang Pu Thuat, a highly revered monk in Thai Buddhism (late 16th to early 17th century), is said to have ordained, studied and served as abbot. The temple has been restored over centuries and preserves a chedi and artifacts linked to this history.

The temple is a major Buddhist pilgrimage site in southern Thailand, deeply venerated for its connection to Luang Pu Thuat. It serves as a center for religious ceremonies, merit-making, and local festivals, and is regarded as a spiritual landmark for Buddhists in Songkhla and neighboring provinces.