Wat Phumin

Wat Phumin is a temple in Nan province, northern Thailand, best known for its richly painted interior murals and a distinctive cruciform ubosot. It is one of Nan’s most visited religious sites and an important example of northern Thai temple art.

Inside the ubosot visitors see extensive wall paintings that portray religious stories, local scenes and daily life; the composition and style are major attractions for students of Thai mural art. The small complex is easy to explore on foot in a short visit.

Local records and inscriptions indicate the ordination hall dates from the late 16th century, with the murals added later in the 19th century by local artists. The building and its decoration have been conserved and restored at intervals.

Wat Phumin sits within the old town of Nan, close to the Nan River and the historic centre. Nan town is in northern Thailand near the border with Laos and is accessible by road and regional air services.

• Noted murals: Famous for its late-19th-century murals that depict local life, Buddhist themes and the distinctive motif of two figures facing each other known as the "whispering lovers" scene.
• Distinctive ubosot: The temple's ubosot (ordination hall) has an unusual cruciform plan and is traditionally dated to the late 16th century.