Wat Phothisomphon is arguably the most important temple in Udon Thani and is renowned for its teachings, particularly on meditation. The centerpiece of this royal Buddhist complex is the Phra Borommathat Thamma Chedi, a pagoda built to commemorate the 80th birthday of King Rama IX. It houses relics of the Buddha, the Tripitaka (a summary of his teachings), and sacred objects. Its interior is adorned with beautiful contemporary murals. The top floor, dedicated to Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha, is considered the most beautiful. Wat Phothisomphon contains two remarkable Buddha statues: a 600-year-old Phra Phuttha Ratsami in the ordination hall, and a 1300-year-old laterite statue in the Lopburi style behind the ordination hall. In addition, there is a Bodhi tree from Sri Lanka and a 200-year-old replica of Buddha's footprints in the Mondop north of the ordination hall.

Free entry. Open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The individual rooms are often closed, but due to its proximity to Nong Prajak Park, I recommend taking a short stroll there when you visit the park.

If your hotel in Udon Thani is located in the city center, you can reach Wat Pothisomphon on foot or by tuk-tuk.

Wat Phothisomphon is a temple, and when visiting a temple in Thailand there are some rules to follow: appropriate clothing (knees and shoulders should be covered), take off your 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 Pothisomphon? If your hotel in Udon Thani is located in the city center, you can reach Wat Pothisomphon on foot or by tuk-tuk.