Wat Tha Luang

It began around 1845 under Rama III as a monks' residence without a consecrated boundary. Under Rama V, after a fire, the abbot — believed to be Luang Pu Iam — rebuilt the huts and halls. On 8 October 1909 the governor, Phraya Phichai Narong Songkhram (Dit), built a new ordination hall later lost to bank erosion. Around 1912 a Thai sala was built without nails, praised by the Supreme Patriarch on his 1914 visit. In 1938 Tha Luang district was renamed Mueang Phichit.

Luang Pho Phet is a bronze Buddha subduing Mara in the full lotus posture, early Chiang Saen (Singh 1) style, with a lap of about 1.2–1.4 m and height of about 1.5–1.6 m; estimates of its age vary, roughly 800–900 years. Its arched frame was added in the Ayutthaya period. Legend says an Ayutthaya commander passing through on a Chiang Mai campaign gave it to Phichit's governor, who enshrined it at Wat Nakhon Chum in the old city. The Fine Arts Department registered it in 1940, and it is one of the nation's 108 important Buddha images.

Around 1899–1901, while Wat Benchamabophit was being built, Chao Phraya Surasi Wisitsak (Choei) and Phichit's governor Phraya Thepathibodi (Im) were tasked with finding a fine Buddha, and Luang Pho Phet was requested. Phichit villagers hid it in the forest; it was found and brought to Wat Tha Luang to await shipment, but in the end a replica of Phra Phuttha Chinnarat was cast on 20 October 1901 and installed at Wat Benchamabophit on 30 December 1901 instead, and Luang Pho Phet stayed. The present ordination hall was built in 1949–52 under Phra Thepphatsimunivong (Pai), with its boundary granted on 8 February 1949, and restored in 1971, 1990 and 2003.

On 9 May 1971 the then Crown Prince joined the Visakha Bucha candle procession here, and in 1986 the temple became a royal monastery. In front of it runs the Phichit long-boat race course, started around 1907 by the abbot Luang Pu Iam and later moved from the 11th to the 10th lunar month to coincide with the old Luang Pho Phet gilding festival and listed as intangible cultural heritage in 2014; the 2026 races opened at Wat Tha Luang on 4 September. The Luang Pho Phet veneration and city festival is the province's biggest, with parades, illuminated fire-boats and light-and-sound shows; it traditionally ran 11 days in January, and in 2026 it was held around late February to early March, so check with TAT. The current abbot, Phra Methi Thammaprachanat, was confirmed on 19 June 2026.

The grounds are open from early morning to about 18:00 and the ordination hall about 08:00/09:00–16:00/17:00; entry is free. Dress modestly and remove shoes in the hall — rules are enforced more strictly than at village temples. There is ample parking and a riverside area; you can walk from the station or take a samlor, and Bueng Si Fai is about 3 km away. Festivals are packed and parking is scarce, and take care on the bank when the river is high in September–October.