Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Chaliang
An older riverside temple founded ~1237 under Khmer influence, blending Angkorian and Sukhothai styles, with a large seated Buddha, a fine Sukhothai-style standing/walking Buddha and a prang set on the Yom River bend.
- Category
- Temples (Wat)
- Entrance fee
- Chaliang zone; small foreigner fee (~20-100 THB) as of 2026 (confirm locally). Often ticketed separately from the main Si Satchanalai zone.
- Hours
- Daily approx 08:00-17:00. Confirm locally.
- Best time
- Morning; the riverside setting and the walking-Buddha in relief photograph well in soft light.
- Time needed
- 30-45 minutes.
About Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Chaliang
Pair this with the main Si Satchanalai zone and you get a temple that feels different from the rest. It is older, founded under Khmer influence, and blends Angkorian and Sukhothai styles in one spot on a bend of the Yom River. The setting alone is worth the short detour.
Inside you will find a large seated Buddha, a prang, and a particularly fine Sukhothai-style standing and walking Buddha rendered in relief. The mix of styles is what makes it distinctive.
It sits a couple of kilometres southeast of the main walled town, an easy add-on by bicycle or car. Go in the morning; the river setting and the walking-Buddha relief take soft light well.
Highlights
- Older temple blending Angkorian and Sukhothai styles
- Riverside setting on a bend of the Yom River
- Fine Sukhothai-style standing and walking Buddha in relief
- Large seated Buddha and a prang
- Distinctive mix of Khmer and Sukhothai art
Tips
- Go in the morning for soft light on the river setting and relief
- Pair it with the main Si Satchanalai zone, it is only a short ride southeast
- It is often ticketed separately from the main zone
- An easy add-on by bicycle or car
How to get there
About 2 km southeast of the main Si Satchanalai walled town, in the Chaliang bend of the Yom River; easy add-on by bicycle or car when visiting the park. ~55-70 km from New Sukhothai.