Temple Land Dispute Becomes Tourist Hotspot in Khon Kaen

Khon Kaen — The entrance to Wat Pa Adulyaram on Kalpaphruk Road continues to attract crowds of relatives, Buddhists, and tourists following the ongoing land dispute. The temple has become a new landmark and photo spot for the city, with visitors photographing the temple gate signs and remains of concrete pipes that officials removed after a woman named Sommanee Noi Chanthon, known as 'Aunt Dah,' and her associates had installed pipes and cement to block the temple's entrances and exits, posting notices demanding the monks vacate within 15 days.

Amid the crowds, street vendors have set up makeshift markets selling various goods, and lottery vendors report exceptional sales this round. The most popular lottery numbers are Abbot Kru Adulysarnithet's age (72), the temple's establishment number (350), the vehicle license plate used by monks (743), and dispute-related numbers 21 and 26, which have all sold out completely. However, Aunt Dah's age—62—remains unsold. Lottery vendor Muthita Chaibuea said demand was very strong for numbers related to the temple, but the number 62 never moved off shelves.

Abbot Kru Adulysarnithet appealed to visitors not to command him, saying the temple is already established and complete. He asked people not to criticize the temple's cleanliness and to sweep it themselves if they feel it needs cleaning. Regarding the wall, he clarified that it was not pierced but damaged by a fallen tree. He urged people not to follow false narratives spread online and cautioned against pressuring monks, warning that spreading rumors causes him headaches.