Wat Phra That Chom Kitti ‘Pay respect to Buddha’s relics.’

This temple is one of the four temples of Mae Hong Son with the word ‘Chom’ in their names. For Wat Phra That Chom Kitti, the name is based on the local language, which means ‘downtown people’.

Let’s learn about it’s historic story.

Long time ago, there were 4 hermits, who were siblings, studying some practice under a great and powerful master. After the four completed their study, the master told them to go practice difficulties and bless Yuam villagers. He sent them to Mon Chom Mati, Mon Chom Tong, Mon Chom Chaeng, and Chom Mon Koodoikonsao.

The eldest hermit stayed at Mon Chom Mati, or Chom Kitti. Later, he and his brothers discussed that they should build 4 pagodas at Mon Chom Mati, Mon Chom Tong, Mon Chom Chaeng, and Chom Mon Koodoikonsao, to contain Buddha’s relics. With that, villagers could pay respect to Buddha’s relics and the pagodas would protect the town against all dangers.

The pagodas were successfully built. That’s how you see them nowadays.

In 1907, Phra That Chom Kitti was renovated by a Burmese elderly man. It was renovated again in 1973.

The whole area of the temple is 11,200 square kilometres. Feel free to go to the white Lanna pagoda to pay respect to Buddha’s relics.

How To Get There

Phra That Chom Kitti temple is located in Mae Sariang District, Mae Hong Son Province.

Use the route Mae Sariang-Mae Sam Leab. To do so, should start from Yuam River Bridge first. Just keep going straight and turn left to the Highway 1194.

Drive carefully. You should pass Mae Kong Health Centre and the entrance of Wat Nam Dib. After that, just keep going for another 500 metres. Soon you will see your way to enter Wat Phra that Chom Kitti. Be extra careful at this point. The road is quite steep, as it’s on a mountain area. Don’t drive to fast or you might fall of a cliff.