Wat Chulamani is one of the oldest temples in Phitsanulok province and marks the site of the ancient city of Phitsanulok. Today, you can visit the ruins of the old brick temple, including a chedi and a Buddha footprint. The former monastery, an Ayutthaya-style building, resembles Wat Rachaburana. Wat Chulamani houses several important Ayutthaya-style Buddha statues, including those of Sukhothai and Chiang Saen. The most important is Luang Pho Phet, which is protected in a small shrine. The statue's eyes and knot were adorned with diamonds, giving it its name. "Phet" means "diamond" in Thai. However, the diamonds were stolen. The viharn is almost always closed, except during some major Buddhist festivals, but its mother-of-pearl-decorated doors and windows feature beautiful depictions. This is what impressed me most during my visit to this temple. That, and the decorations that surround most of the tree trunks at Wat Chulamani.

The temple is open from 8 am to 5 pm.

I believe, but you should double-check, that you can reach the temple by taking local bus number 12 (purple). Alternatively, the temple is also easily accessible by bicycle; it's less than 8 km from Phitsanulok city center. A tuk-tuk from the train station costs about 200 baht for the ride, will wait during your temple visit, and then take you back.

Wat Chulamanee is a temple, and when visiting a temple in Thailand there are some rules to follow: appropriate clothing (knees and shoulders should be covered), remove shoes when entering the building, be quiet, do not hug or kiss, do not point your feet at the Buddha statue, do not smoke.

How to get there

How do you get to Wat Chulamanee? I believe you can reach the temple by taking local bus number 12 (purple), but you should double-check. Alternatively, the temple is also easy to find and reach by bicycle; it's less than 8 km from Phitsanulok city center. A tuk-tuk from the train station costs about 200 baht for the ride, will wait during your temple visit, and then take you back.