Wat Chulamani Temple

Address: Wat Chulamani Worawihan, Phitsanulok, Thailand

Hours: Daily, dawn-dusk

Admission: Free (donations welcome)

Wat Chulamani is a riverside temple in Phitsanulok notable for its Khmer-style prang and historic religious imagery. The temple stands along the Nan River and is a long-established local religious site.

The temple’s most distinctive architectural element is the prang, which reflects Khmer influence blended with Sukhothai-period forms. The complex contains ordination halls and Buddha images that attract both worshippers and visitors.

Wat Chulamani was founded during the Sukhothai era and has been part of the religious landscape of Phitsanulok since medieval times. It has been maintained and used continuously as a functioning temple.

The temple lies in Phitsanulok city on the western bank of the Nan River, readily accessible from the city centre.

• Riverside prang: Features a Khmer-style prang (tower) and historic Buddha images, and is situated on the bank of the Nan River.

Wat Chulamani sits on the Nan River in central Phitsanulok city. From Bangkok you can reach Phitsanulok by the State Railway of Thailand Northern Line (trains from Bangkok Hua Lamphong) or by intercity bus from Mo Chit (about 350 km north of Bangkok). Once in Phitsanulok take a short tuk‑tuk or taxi from the train/bus station; the temple is within the city center on the riverfront and is generally a short walk (around 500-1,500 m) from the main transport hubs.

• Time your visit for early morning or late afternoon to see Wat Chulamani's riverside setting and to catch local alms or chanting schedules with softer light for photos.
• It's within easy walking distance of central Phitsanulok, so combine it with a stroll along the Nan River and nearby historical sites to make the most of your visit.
• Take a few minutes to study the Chedi's Khmer-influenced masonry and bas-reliefs - these architectural details are a highlight that many visitors miss when only viewing from the main compound.

Phitsanulok’s oldest temple lies about five kilometres south of the city centre. In its heyday it must have been an impressive structure, but today all that remains is the Khmer-style prang, which still carries remnants of intricately decorated lintels.

The temple was built before the Sukhothai era and is where King Borom Trailokanat was ordained as a monk in 1416. Standing on the grounds of an ancient township and housing an old stone inscription, it will chiefly reward those with a taste for archaeology, given how little of the original now survives.