Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong Worawihan

Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong Worawihan stands on a low mound in Chom Thong district, about 58 km south of Chiang Mai. Tradition dates the temple to the 15th century, though most of the present buildings are later; the main hall dates from 1817. Its chedi enshrines a relic described as coming from the right side of the Buddha’s head, and the temple holds the royal grade of worawihan.

In 1991, at the request of the Supreme Patriarch, Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo became abbot and built a meditation centre beside the old temple, with huts, interview rooms and an office. It teaches the same four-foundations practice he had taught at Wat Ram Poeng: mindful prostration, walking and sitting meditation, and a daily meeting with the teacher.

For foreign students the centre recommends a stay of seven to ten days and offers a longer foundation course and an advanced review course. Its website says teaching is available in Thai, English or French from monk teachers, and asks foundation-course students for at least eight hours of formal practice a day. The site gives different figures on different pages (a minimum stay of three or five days, a foundation course of 21 or 24 days, a review course of 10 or 14 to 16 days), so confirm when you book.

Bookings are made through a form on the website. The same organisation runs a branch centre in Germany.