Wat Mon Phaya Nak

The temple is named for Somdet Phra Phutthachinnawong (Somsak Upasamo), former abbot of Wat Phichaiyatikaram, who started the project and died on 28 June 2019, the year construction began. Phu Kamyao is the ancient name of Phayao, adopted by the district as an auspicious name.

Before the temple, Mon Kamphra was a meditation retreat of Luang Pho Phra Khru Wimonkhantayaphon, according to Amarin TV. Villagers in Huai Kaeo tell of a glowing orb rising from Doi Duan on holy days, but no source links this hill directly to the legend of King Ngam Mueang.

On 17 December 2018 the Phutthasuwannaphum Foundation was set up to build the temple, and from 2019 the project was dedicated to King Rama X's coronation as a meditation centre and a base for spreading Buddhism in Phayao.

It is led by Phra Khru Wisitsorakan ("Phra Khru Thai"), assistant abbot of Wat Phichaiyatikaram in Bangkok and chair of the foundation, whom Daily News called acting abbot in 2023. A report from October 2023 names Phra Khru Aphirak Chinnawong as acting abbot — probably the monk running the temple on site — so no single abbot should be named as fact.

On 22 January 2022 the Supreme Sangha Council approved the name Wat Pa Phuttha Chinnawongsaram after the foundation applied for land use and permission to build. Whether it is fully registered as a temple with a consecrated boundary is not confirmed.

Its best-known feature is a seven-headed naga, Phaya Mucharin, built to coil around the hill. Daily News in 2023 gave its length as 900 m; later media say 909 m. The head stands about 45 m high, and inside the naga are 111 meditation rooms.

In early 2022 a statue of Thao Wessuwan (Vessavana) was installed on its base, making the temple a place to pray to both the naga king and Vessavana. There is also the 6.35 m Phra Phuttha Maha Chakkraphat Lokawiwon, a Buddha in the "opening the world" posture at the Naga Plaza, and a walk-in naga cave with a principal Buddha image.

On 8 November 2022 foundation stones were laid for a replica of Phra Phuttha Metta, 30 m wide at the lap with a budget of about 18 million baht, and a 10×16 m Lanna-style ordination hall on the summit; no report says when they will be finished.

On 15 February 2023 TAT's Phayao office said it would promote the temple as a key provincial attraction, and on 1 October 2023 the temple and the Phu Kamyao district chief began a Khok Nong Na sufficiency-farming project on temple land.

Many come seeking luck: in October 2025 crowds were reported on lottery day, and in November 2025 Amarin TV reported a winding track more than 500 m long and about 1 m wide that appeared in a rice field south of the hill, which villagers believed was the naga rising from the underworld — still unexplained.

In October 2025 a Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University paper proposed a Buddhist-tourism model for the temple, noting safe walkways, clear signs, clean toilets, ample parking and community stalls.

On 18 February 2026 the Religious Affairs Department and Phayao's culture office held a "Tak Bat Mon Phaya Nak" alms-giving, presided over by Phra Thepyanawethi, abbot of Wat Si Khom Kham, and the department's director-general, with over 498 relief bags handed out and trees planted.

Regular activities include alms-giving on the hill on New Year's Day, the end of Buddhist Lent and holy days, monthly meditation retreats, candlelit processions, kathin and youth camps. Visitors can tour the hill by tram.

No reliable source yet confirms a sea of mist here; Phayao's well-known mist spots are Kwan Phayao and Phu Langka, so come on a cool-season morning without high expectations. Opening hours, fees and dress rules are not published, so check with the temple.