Wat Phra That Cho Hae

Wat Phra That Cho Hae is a revered Buddhist temple located in Cho Hae Subdistrict, about 9 km southeast of Phrae town in northern Thailand. It is a first-class royal temple famous for its gilded chedi enshrining Buddha relics. Built in the Sukhothai period, it features classic Lanna architecture, ornate viharns, naga staircases and is the sacred pilgrimage temple for those born in the Year of the Tiger.

Visitors can expect a hilltop temple compound centered on a 33-meter tall gold-covered chedi wrapped in satin cloth, surrounded by Lanna-style viharns, chapels and Buddha images. The complex is reached via a naga-flanked staircase and offers open courtyards, decorated gates, and views over the surrounding countryside. Areas include the main prayer halls, relic chedi terrace, and souvenir and merit-making stalls within a calm, active worship environment.

Tradition attributes the temple's founding to the Sukhothai period between 1336 and 1338, built to enshrine Buddha relics brought to the area. Associated with King Lithai of Sukhothai and later rulers of Phrae, the chedi has been restored and embellished over centuries and was later elevated to a first-class royal temple (Phra Aram Luang). It remains a historic center of Buddhism in Phrae Province.

Wat Phra That Cho Hae is one of the most sacred temples in northern Thailand and is the designated pilgrimage temple for people born in the Year of the Tiger according to Lanna belief. It is a center for Buddhist merit-making, annual worship festivals, and traditional Lanna cultural practices, with the chedi's satin wrapping ceremony considered highly auspicious.