The first word – wat- is the Thai word for temple. Phra that, means Buddha relic (from phra meaning monk and that meaning essence). The third word, Lampang, is the name of the location in Thailand. The fourth word, luang, means great. Altogether, a loose translation, “Temple of Lampang’s Great Buddha Relic”. The fame of the temple, and its preservation throughout the centuries is mainly due to the belief that Buddha once visited here about 2,500 years ago and donated a lock of his hair, which is now enshrined in the temple’s chedi.