Wat Phra Yuen Phutthabat Yukhon
Twin Buddha footprints of Thung Yang

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Wat Phra Yuen Phutthabat Yukhon — or just Wat Phra Yuen as locals call it — sits on the Ban Phra Thaen hill in Moo 6, Thung Yang sub-district, Laplae district, Uttaradit province. A common mix-up is assuming it's the same temple as Phra Thaen Sila At. They're actually two separate temples on the same hill but different peaks: Phra Thaen Sila At on one side, Wat Phra Yuen just beyond, an easy walk apart. If you make it to Phra Thaen but skip Wat Phra Yuen, you've missed something genuinely worth seeing.

The highlight: twin Buddha footprints in a Chiang Saen mondop

The heart of the temple is a Chiang Saen-style mondop built to shelter a pair of twin Buddha footprints carved into laterite. Legend says the Buddha came to stand on the summit of this hill, leaving both his left and right footprints side by side on the stone. That "twin" quality is what sets the temple apart, since Buddha footprints at most temples come as a single print. The name "Phra Yuen" (the standing Buddha) comes from that same story of him standing here.

This mondop has been restored across several eras. Tradition holds that Chao Thammaracha Kumar, ruler of Si Satchanalai, had it built in the Sukhothai period. Later, during the reign of King Borommakot, it was restored and given a small crowned roof, and in 1901 (BE 2444), in the reign of King Rama V, it underwent a major restoration that gave it the four-gabled roof you see today. Once you know the backstory, standing and looking at it lands differently — it's a structure that people have cared for and passed down over several hundred years.

Luang Pho Phuttha Rangsi, the Sukhothai-era principal Buddha

Inside the ordination hall is Luang Pho Phuttha Rangsi, the principal Buddha image in the subduing-Mara posture, crafted by Sukhothai-period artisans. The people of Thung Yang and Laplae hold it in deep respect, and most visitors step in to pay their respects and make a wish before going to see the footprints. The hall isn't large, but it's quiet and calm — a good place to sit and settle your mind for a moment before moving on.

The three temples of Thung Yang — all in one morning

The real charm of this area is that three old temples here are tied together by the legend of the Buddha's journey through Thung Yang. Locals refer to them collectively as the "three Buddhist sites," and they sit close together along a single road, easy to visit one after another in a single morning.

• Wat Phra Yuen Phutthabat Yukhon — twin Buddha footprints in a Chiang Saen mondop, plus Luang Pho Phuttha Rangsi (the temple covered here).
• Wat Phra Thaen Sila At — on the same hill, within walking distance, with a laterite stone slab believed to be where five Buddhas came to rest. Today it holds royal temple status.
• Wat Phra Borommathat Thung Yang — about 500 metres away, with an old Lankan-style chedi believed to enshrine relics of the Buddha, built in the Sukhothai period.

All three line up along Highway 102, the Uttaradit–Laplae route, just about 3–5 km from the town centre. Driving or hiring a songthaew gets you there quickly, and walking through all three takes roughly half a morning, which is a comfortable pace.

Getting there and how to find the entrance

From Uttaradit town, take Highway 102 heading toward Laplae for about 3.5 km. You'll pass Wat Phra Borommathat Thung Yang first, then about 500 metres further on, Wat Phra Yuen Phutthabat Yukhon is on your left near a junction. Phra Thaen Sila At is right next door on the same hill. If you're using a phone map, typing "Wat Phra Yuen Phutthabat Yukhon" or "Phra Thaen Sila At" brings up both.

• Private car / rental — the most convenient option, with parking at the temple. It's under a 15-minute drive from town.
• Songthaew / chartered taxi — from Uttaradit town you can charter a ride to Laplae and stop at the three Thung Yang temples along the way. Agree on the price with the driver before you set off.
• Bicycle / rented motorbike — the route isn't far and the road is fairly smooth, good for anyone who likes touring Thung Yang slowly.

Sample half-morning plan: the three Thung Yang temples

This plan leaves room for an unhurried, easy pace. If you want to take your time and shoot lots of photos, you can stretch it out. If you're coming as a group, chartering a single vehicle works out cheaper and saves you worrying about parking.

Who it suits, and what to know before you go

Honestly, Wat Phra Yuen Phutthabat Yukhon isn't a flashy photo spot or a scenic-view café for check-ins. It's an old temple whose value lies in its legend, its laterite craftsmanship and its calm. The people who get the most out of it are those who love history, who enjoy walking old temples slowly, or who come to make merit and pray in earnest. If you travel a long way just for this one temple, it might feel over too quickly — but visited as part of the three-temple Thung Yang set, the payoff feels much fuller.

• Good for — pilgrims, history lovers, anyone who enjoys quiet old temples, and people already visiting Phra Thaen Sila At.
• Maybe not for you — if you're chasing social-media check-in spots or activity-packed thrills.
• Set your expectations — this is a local temple, so facilities are basic. Restrooms are simple, there aren't many shops out front, so bring your own drinking water.