Wat Si Chum
Houses Phra Achana, a massive ~15 m seated Buddha wedged into a narrow roofless mondop so that the giant gilded hand and serene face fill the entrance slot — one of Sukhothai's most photographed sights.
- Category
- Temples (Wat)
- Entrance fee
- In the Northern Zone; covered by the ~120 THB foreigner Northern Zone ticket as of 2026 (confirm locally).
- Hours
- Daily approx 06:30-19:30 (aligned with park hours). Confirm locally.
- Best time
- Morning light hits the Buddha's face well through the slot; go early to beat tour groups.
- Time needed
- 20-30 minutes.
About Wat Si Chum
Make the short hop up to the Northern Zone for this one. Wat Si Chum shelters Phra Achana, a huge seated Buddha squeezed into a narrow roofless mondop so that the gilded hand and calm face fill the slot as you approach. Photos undersell it; the scale in person is the whole point.
There is a good story attached, too. A hidden stair inside the wall once let a voice seem to issue from the image, which earned it the nickname of the talking Buddha.
It is a quick stop, twenty to thirty minutes, and it rarely disappoints. Come early: the morning light falls nicely on the face through the slot, and you will beat the tour groups that funnel through later.
Highlights
- Phra Achana, a roughly 15 m seated Buddha
- The giant gilded hand and serene face framed in the entrance slot
- One of the most photographed sights in Sukhothai
- The talking Buddha legend and its hidden stair
- Striking sense of scale up close
Tips
- Arrive early for good light on the face and fewer tour groups
- It is in the Northern Zone, a separate ticket from the Central Zone
- A short cycle from the main gate makes it an easy add-on
- Twenty to thirty minutes is plenty of time here
How to get there
Northern Zone, just outside the north wall of the Central Zone; a short cycle from the main gate. ~12 km from New Sukhothai by songthaew (~30 THB) or tuk-tuk.