Wat Mahan is a royal temple built by Prince Annop, a son of King Rama III. The prince began construction on the temple in 1850. Wat Mahan happens to be the location of Siam’s first public school for commoners which was established by King Rama V in an attempt to set up a system of public schools like those he had seen in Europe.

Wat Mahan houses the famous 500 year old Luang Pho Ruang Buddha image. Prince Annop brought this Buddha to Wat Mahan from the old Siamese capital of Sukhothai. And many Thai people come here to pay their respects to the image and make offerings.