Located on Khun Chang Road, on the western bank of the Tha Chin River,
opposite the market, this temple dates back over 600 years to the late
U Thong period. The ancient temple houses a reclining Buddha statue,
which is said to have the most beautiful face in Thailand. With a
length of 13 metres and 3 metres high, the east-facing reclining Buddha
image is surmised to have been built during the years 1257-1260.
Another interesting antique is a wooden Buddha footprint. The footprint
is 221.5 centimetres long, 74 centimetres wide and 10 centimetres
thick. Delicately carved on both sides of Paduak wood, it is the only
one of its kind in Thailand.
The footprint was formerly housed at Wat Khao Din. During a war between
Thailand and Burma, it was saved by a monk who was afraid this precious
item would be destroyed. So he brought the footprint down the river and
placed it here. Moreover, the temple compound comprises many antiques
such as a Pagoda of the U Thong period, remains of a pagoda of the
Dvaravati period, bronze bell, delicately carved pulpit of the late
Ayutthaya style. Wat Phra Rup is also the original place of the famous
Phra Khun Phaen amulet.
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