Wat Chai Chana Songkhram

The old city of Tak was moved from Ko Thapao in Ban Tak District to the west bank of the Ping River at present Pa Mamuang Sub-district in the reign of King Chakkraphat (1548-1569 CE) to use the Ping River as a natural defence line to withstand an attack of the Burmese marching over the Mae Lamao Pass. ( I do not understand why they settled down on the west bank instead of the east bank, but this is probably a war strategy).

The Hongsawadi King ordered Chiang Mai, a vassal state of Hongsawadi, to attack Rahaeng (Tak). The Siamese army set up the defences in Nong Bua Tai on the east bank and the west bank at Ban Tha Khae in Chiang Ngoen. The battle's outcome is unknown, but a temple was built as a memorial called Wat Doi Tha Chai and renamed later Wat Chai Chana Songkhram. The villagers popularly called it Wat Tha Khae after the original village name since olden times.

The famous statue of Buddha Luang Pho To was made in 1756 CE at the end of the Ayutthaya era on the order of the Luang Yok Krabat (the governor of Tak and later monarch of the Kingdom of Thonburi, King Taksin). At the fall of the Ayutthaya in 1767, the monastery was abandoned and fell into decay. At the beginning of the 20th century, the temple was renovated, and the Buddha image was repaired. The Buddha is housed in the ordination hall.

Ayutthaya Historical Research