Wat Anubbanphot is a religious site with a carefully designed ordination hall: a square floor plan, multi-tiered roof, Naga staircases, and narrative murals give the temple a distinct architectural and cultural character. It was built in 1921 during the reign of King Vajiravudh in Khao Noi Village, in Ban Mai Nong Sai Subdistrict, and is also known as Wat Khao Noi Anubbanphot. For a culturally focused trip, its building history, architecture, and religious art offer different areas of interest.
Ordination Hall: Floor Plan, Roof, and Staircases
The ordination hall is square, with each side measuring 11.50 meters. Its roof is in the Thai style and has a pointed, two-tiered structure, the first tier of which is hexagonal. This brings together different forms: a square hall floor plan and a hexagonal tier in the roof structure. Those interested in architectural forms can consider both details: the measurement describes the floor area, while the tiers and pointed elements shape the roof.
The staircases are also part of the design. Naga staircases lead down from all four sides of the ordination hall to the foot of the hill. The description therefore includes not only the structure above ground but also the route of the staircases along the slope. The floor plan, roof, and staircases offer different ways to appreciate the architecture, without reducing the hall to a single feature.
Wood Carvings and Murals
The door panels are decorated with wood carvings depicting the Vessantara Jataka, an episode from the Ten Jātakas. The carvings also depict the Ramakien and various deities. The traditional murals are vividly colored and portray the Ten Jātakas and the life of the Buddha. The doors and walls thus feature different artistic forms and religious subjects.
One specific subject, the Vessantara Jataka, appears alongside the broader themes of the Ten Jātakas and the life of the Buddha. The wood carvings expand on these subjects with depictions from the Ramakien and of deities. Those interested in religious storytelling can distinguish both individual tales and broader groups of themes. The combination of architectural form and visual art makes the ordination hall a cultural highlight of the temple.
Religious Role and Location
Wat Anubbanphot is a religious site regularly visited and revered by residents of Aranyaprathet District and neighboring districts. This regional connection adds the temple’s religious role to its architectural and artistic features. When planning your trip, you can consider whether you are mainly interested in its architecture and imagery or also in the site’s religious significance.
The temple is located in Moo 2, Ban Mai Nong Sai Subdistrict, in Khao Noi Village. From Suwannasorn Road, Thana Withi Road leads toward Ta Phraya District for about one kilometer to the temple. These place and road names offer specific reference points for locating Wat Anubbanphot as you plan your trip.
If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Ban Mai Nong Sai, Wat Anubbanphot offers a clear cultural focus: history, architecture, and religious imagery. This can help you decide whether temple art and building history match your interests for the trip.
For the broader travel overview: Amphoe Aranyaprathet.
