Your Travel Guide to Thailand
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Visit Wat Tha Sung (Crystal Temple) (Uthai Thani)
Presentation Wat Tha Sung (Crystal Temple)
Built in the Ayutthaya period with tree trunks, it was nicknamed Wat Tha Sung, sung meaning log in Thai. The original temple gradually fell into disrepair until the revered monk Luang Por Ruesi Ling Dam launched its restoration and turned it into a big center for Buddhist teaching. It is the incorruptible corpse of Luang Por Ruesi Ling Dam that attracts many Thai devotees to pay respect to him.
Two elements are essential to visit at Wat Tha Sung. The Crystal Sanctuary 100 meters long which could be called the Thailand's hall of mirrors with its walls and columns covered with mirrors. This is where the corpse of Luang Por Ruesi Ling Dam is housed. The other building to see is the Prasat Thong Kham also nicknamed the Golden Castle. Exterior and interior are covered in gold with magnificently carved reliefs, especially on the many doors of the building. You will also find on the right side of the golden castle, surrounding the parking spaces, an elevated corridor with dozens of seated Buddhas, all different!
Between the Crystal Sanctuary and Prasat Thong Kham, you will also see a building with a large built-in standing Buddha.
Wat Tha Sung is still under construction, when I last visited in December 2022, they were building a whole new complex with sparkling facades.
Practical information about Wat Tha Sung (Crystal Temple)
Free admissionThe Crystal Sanctuary is open every day from 9 am to 11.45 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Golden Castle opens from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. but you can still visit the ground floor in general until around 5 p.m. but no longer possible to go upstairs after 4 p.m.
How to get to Wat Tha Sung (Crystal Temple) ?
The temple is located about ten kilometers south of Uthaï Thani city. To get to Wat Tha Sung, it should probably be possible to take a local bus and get dropped there but I can't tell you exactly which bus to take. Go to the Bus Terminal and ask there or hire a tuk-tuk there. Otherwise, the most practical is probably to see with your hotel or homestay in Uthai Thani and ask them to organize it for you. There is also a bike circuit that goes through Koh Thephoand finishes at Wat Tha Sung but if you choose this option to come to the temple, be very careful on the road!
Find Wat Tha Sung (Crystal Temple) on GoogleMap
Rules to respect when visiting a temple
Wat Tha Sung (Crystal Temple) is a temple and when you visit a temple in Thailand there are some rules to know and follow :
- Dress properly (knees and shoulders should be covered)
- Take off your shoes when entering the buildings
- Be quiet
- Don't hug or kiss
- Don't point your feet to Buddha's image
- Don't smoke
