A few years ago, when I was road-tripping through Thailand’s Isaan region with the man who is now my husband, he made an unorthodox addition to our itinerary. “Put this name into Google Maps,” he said as we were driving out of Udon Thani, and spelled out the name of Wat Kam Chanot temple.
Well, it seems unorthodox to me as a foreigner. For reasons I’ll explain in just a minute, it’s an extremely common place for Thai people to go.
Regardless of this fact, and no matter why you find yourself headed there, Wat Kham Chanot is certainly a unique and special place. Continue reading to learn more about it.
Why Thais Flock to Wat Kham Chanot
Kham Chanot temple is named as such because it is surrounded by chanot trees, which are a species of palm. Rumor has it that these trees can reveal lucky lottery numbers—well, at least if you’re prayers to the images of Naga (a local deity that takes the shape of a snake) are answered. My husband told me of a woman who used the numbers to win tens of millions of euro in Europe; I can’t find this corroborated anywhere.
I also can’t say for sure whether this luck would transfer over to a site like ThaiCasino, where you can choose from any of several online casinos to play your favorite games. Still, even if it doesn’t, spending some time on this site might be a good idea after a trip to Wat Kham Chanot, given how remote it is and how much you will likely need to decompress.
How to Plan Your Visit to Wat Kham Chanot
Fly to Udon Thani
Unless you don’t mind a really long drive from Bangkok—or already find yourself somewhere in Isaan, such as Ubon Ratchathani, Roi Et or Nakhon Phanom—you will need to fly from Bangkok (BKK) to Udon Thani (UTH). Many flights per day serve this route, so this shouldn’t be an issue.
Rent a car (or hire a taxi)
The next step for reaching Kham Chanot forest? Secure transportation. I usually prefer to rent a car, and to do so upon arriving at Udon Thani airport (which has the greatest availability of rental cars in the city). You can also ask your hotel in Udon Thani to help you source a taxi and driver.
Head out early
Unless you arrive quite early in the morning and head out directly from the airport, I recommend getting a good night’s sleep in Udon Thani city, and then heading out early in the morning. This allows you to reach the temple before it gets too hot and crowded.
Buy offerings along the way
Along the road to Wat Kham Chanot, you’ll pass stands with colorful offerings shaped like Naga, with women snaking their arms in the air to wave you down off the road. If you buy into the lore around the temple, I recommend stopping here to buy your offerings, as they’re cheaper than the ones inside.
Take your time
Kham Chanot temple sits on an island, and covers a lot more land area than is evident from the outside. As a result, you’ll need longer than you expect to explore it. This is particularly the case if you’re visiting with a Thai person who takes the temple’s lottery lore seriously.
Other Things to Do in Udon Thani
As I write about often on this site, Udon Thani is an extremely underrated corner of Isaan, and of Thailand as a whole. Here are some of my favorite things to do there:
- If you come in late January or early February, visit Talay Bua Daeng, aka the Red Lotus Sea, to see thousands of pink lotus flowers in bloom on the surface of a lake.
- Make an excursion to Wat Pa Phu Kon, which is sometimes called the “Blue Temple.” This is a worthy add-on if you’re headed to Loei before or after Udon Thani.
- While not technically in Udon Thani, Nong Khai is a town and province nor far away, where you can take in Mekong River views, and potentially even travel onward to Laos.
Contrary to what I mentioned earlier, you certainly can visit Kham Chanot shrine on a day trip from there, even if it’s better along the way during a road trip.
Other FAQ About Visiting Wat Kham Chanot
Is Wat Kham Chanot worth visiting?
In spite of being popular among Thais, Kham Chanot temple is basically unknown to foreigners. To me, this makes it even more worth visiting, even if you discount the beautiful scenery there, and the unique mythology that underlies the entire site.
Why is Wat Kham Chanot so popular?
Thai people love Wat Kham Chanot because they believe the chanot trees (a type of palm) on the island where the temple is built can predict lottery numbers. Whether or not this is true, I do find that there’s a festive, optimistic spirit here that isn’t necessarily present at all other Thai temples.
How can I get to Wat Kham Chanot?
Whether as a day trip from Udon Thani or en route between Udon Thani and other places in Isaan (likely Sakhon Nakhon or Nakhon Phanom), Wat Kham Chanot is not easily accessible via public transport. As a result, you’ll either need to rent your own car or motorbike to get there, or to hire a taxi and driver for the day.
The Bottom Line
Wat Kham Chanot might not be on your list as a foreign visitor to Thailand, but I promise you: It’s worth the journey. Because of its distance from central Udon Thani, it makes the most sense as a stop along an Isaan road trip, rather than a simple day trip from the city. For example, you could stop there on your way between Udon Thani and Nakhon Phanom, in far northeastern Isaan. Regardless of how the temple ends up fitting into your travel plans, I have a feeling it will exceed whatever expectations you have of it. Another way to take a trip with a wow factor? Commission a custom Thailand itinerary today!
