In 1873, Phra Khru Ophat Phutthakhun (a VENERATED monk and abbot) founded Wat Chonlathara Singhe and requested land from Phraya Kelantan (a chieftain) for its construction. At that time, Tak Bai was still a part of Kelantan in Malaysia. Later on, this Buddhist temple played an important role in the division of land between Siam and Malaya (then a colony of the United Kingdom) during the reign of King Rama V in 1909. Thailand raised the fact that, as the temple was Buddhist, the area should remain with Thailand. The British relented and agreed to use the Klok River (Tak Bai River), which flows through Tak Bai, as the boundary. As a result, the temple is also called Wat Phithak Phaen Din Thai, translated as “temple that protects Thai sovereignty”.
The temple is serene and has a spacious lawn on the riverbank that is ideal for relaxation. The chapel, built in the reign of King Rama V, has murals painted by monks from Songkhla. The paintings depict the life of the Lord Buddha and the daily lives of locals during the era. It also houses the temple’s main Buddha image, its original features (a red mouth and black hair) covered by gold. From the style of the base, it is believed that this is a Mon image