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Wat Nong Bua (built 1862 onward)

Wat Nong Bua, the "Lotus Pond Monastery", stands about 40 kilometers north of Nan. It was constructed in 1862 by the Tai Lue people, who figure prominently in the history of the Nan valley region from the 19th century onward. The Wat is famous for its mural paintings, which are similar in style to those of Wat Phumin in downtown Nan. It is possible that the same artists may have worked on both projects.

The village surrounding Nong Bua is inhabited by Tai Lue people who emigrated from the Sipsongpanna region of southern Yunnan in 1836 (pinyin: Xishuangbanna). Numerous Tai Lue came to inhabit the Nan valley after Kawila, a local ruler in the late 18th century, raided southern Yunnan areas to repopulate the eastern regions of Lanna Tai. Today, the village continues to retain much of its traditional culture, including distinctive Tai Lue textiles which are produced at a local cooperative.