Wat Phra That Renu Nakhon
Elegant chedi in rural Renu Nakhon
Nakhon Phanom
In Nakhon Phanom province, in Northeast Thailand also known as Isan, lies the village of Renu Nakhon. This area, not much visited by foreign tourists just West of the Mekong river and neighboring Laos, is mainly rural and quiet.
Elegant Laotian chedi
The town’s main attraction is the Wat Phra That Renu Nakhon temple complex, with the elegantly designed 36 meters tall and over 8 meters wide chedi dominating the area. The chedi is based on the much older and very highly revered chedi of Wat Phra That Phanom, a little South of Renu Nakhon. Although not the same in shape or size, the two chedis share the same design characteristics.
The mainly white and gold colored chedi named Phra That Renu was built in 1918 and is a good example of Laotian style. The pagoda has niches on all four sides.
Golden Buddha image
The ubosot or ordination hall of the temple complex contains a highly revered golden Buddha image in Laotian style.
This temple also contains a cabinet with ancient Buddhist scriptures, known as the Tripitaka, that contain the teachings of the Buddha, written in Sanskrit or Pali language. You will also find a number of items used for Buddhist ceremonies that once belonged to the Royals of Nakhon Phanom.
The Wat Phra That Renu Nakhon temple has been renovated extensively in the past few years.
Cotton handicrafts sold on the temple grounds
The village Renu Nakhon is also known for the Phu Thai people that live here, and the hand made cotton and silk products they produce. If you are interested in cotton and silk handicrafts, there are several places where you can see the people at work, weaving their products. The Wat Phra That Renu Nakhon temple grounds is one of the places where the Phu Thai people sell their products.
How to get to the Wat Phra That Renu Nakhon
The Wat Phra That Renu Nakhon is located in Nakhon Phanom province in Northeastern Thailand. It is situated in the small town of Renu Nakhon, about 50 kilometers South of the provincial capital Nakhon Phanom town.
The quickest way to get there is by plane. Nok Air has scheduled flights to Nakhon Phanom town from Bangkok’s Don Muang airport. It is not possible to get to Nakhon Phanom by train. The nearest train stations are Nong Khai and Udon Thani, that are part of the Northeastern Line of the State Railway of Thailand.
Opening hours
The Wat Phra That Renu Nakhon is open daily during daylight hours.
Entrance fee
Admission is free.