🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Wat Phra Phutthabat Yasothon isn't a famous spot everyone knows. It's a plain village temple out in the countryside of Maha Chana Chai district. What pulls in temple-goers and history buffs is the old artefacts inside: the replica Buddha footprint and the sandstone Buddha in the Naga-sheltered posture, which legend says Phra Maha Uttama Panya brought from Ayutthaya back when the temple was still abandoned. This article tells it straight — what you actually get out of coming here, and what to plan for.
Where is it, and how far?
The temple sits in Ban Nong Yang, Moo 3, Hua Mueang sub-district, Maha Chana Chai district, Yasothon province — about 6 km from the Maha Chana Chai district office along Highway 2083. From Yasothon town, drive south roughly 35–40 km; figure on 40 minutes to an hour. The road in is a rural one through rice fields, and a regular car handles it easily in the dry season.
Straight talk before you go
This is a genuinely rural temple — no shops or cafés around it, no guide, no entry fee, and it's open all day. It's best as a quiet stop to pay respects along the way, not a main destination worth driving a long way for. If you're expecting a big, grand temple, you may come away disappointed.
Want more out of Yasothon? Book tours & activities
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
What stands out — the replica Buddha footprint and the old Buddhas
The heart of the temple is the replica Buddha footprint enshrined in a mondop (pavilion), made in the Ayutthaya-era tradition of creating Buddha footprints. Alongside it is a Buddha in the Naga-sheltered posture carved from sandstone — a genuine old piece, not a new cast. If you like old Buddha images, you'll get to see the stone itself and the marks of age, the kind you rarely find in ordinary temples.
- Replica Buddha footprint — enshrined in the mondop and the source of the temple's name. People come to apply gold leaf and pay their respects.
- Sandstone Naga-sheltered Buddha — an old image carved from sandstone, with a Naga spreading its hood overhead. It's said to have been brought from Ayutthaya.
- Thai Noi inscription — found in the same area as the Buddha image. The script was used by the Tai-Lao people of Isan hundreds of years ago, and it's a fascinating piece of historical evidence.
Beyond that, the temple also has a sim (ordination hall) and a chedi to walk around and take in. The grounds are fairly large — around 55 rai — with big shade trees, and a slow walk around the whole place takes about 30–45 minutes.
The appeal is the quiet — and the temple-in-the-water in the rainy season
What most people like best here is the quiet. On weekdays there are almost no tourists — just locals dropping by to make merit. The mood is shady and calm under the big trees, ideal if you want to sit peacefully and pay respects with no noise. It feels different from the crowded, popular temples in town.
The other thing that gets this temple talked about is the flooding in the rainy season. Some years the water rises and surrounds the temple until it's like an island, with monks having to take a boat out on their alms round. It's an unusual, striking sight and people often photograph and share it — but if you actually plan to come and walk around, we'd steer clear of the flood period, because the road in can be cut off.
The best time to come
The dry season from late in the year into the new year (November–February) has good weather, a dry road in and easy walking. If you want to see the temple as an island in the water, you'll have to gamble on the late-rains flood period around September–October — and check the road conditions before you set off.
Where to stop next
Because the temple sits in Maha Chana Chai district, fairly far from town, coming out here is best built into a trip that strings several stops together on one route — otherwise you waste time driving for nothing. There's plenty to stop for in the district and on the way back to town.
Maha Chana Chai pickled fish (pla som)
The signature product of Maha Chana Chai district. Stop to buy fresh pla som straight from where it's made and take some home — prices at the source are easier on the wallet than buying in town.
On the wayPhra That Kong Khao Noi
An old chedi that's a landmark of the province, with a cautionary legend attached. It's on the route back into Yasothon town, so it makes a natural next stop to pay your respects.
In townBan Singha Tha old town
Once you're back in town, follow up with the row of prettily painted old buildings — good for photos and finding some local evening eats.
Who this temple suits
- Temple-goers — if you want a quiet place to pay respects and ask for blessings without fighting the crowds for space, this delivers.
- History lovers — interested in the old sandstone Buddha, the replica Buddha footprint and the Thai Noi inscription? There's the real thing to see here.
- Quiet-temple photographers — if you like capturing plain village temples under big trees, with a still mood and no tourist scenes, this fits.
But if you're a traveller short on time who just wants to hit Yasothon's highlights, this temple may not be a must — it's far out, and its draw is more peace and quiet than spectacle. We'd say choose by the style you genuinely like; that's how you'll get the most out of your time.
Plan your stay and a full Yasothon trip
See the Yasothon travel guide →