Wat Phon Chai is central in the town of Dan Sai and is adjacent to the Dan Sai Folk Museum. During the dry season the temple springs to life for a three day festival called Phi Ta Khon, sometimes known as the ghost festival, during which merit making and spiritual ritual is carried out according to legend. Elaborate ‘ghost’ masks and dress are designed to ‘awaken the dead’.
Despite the temple’s high profile during the festival little is known about the origins and purpose of the temple itself but it is known to be several hundred years old. The ubosot (chapel) is small and a prathat (small chedi) resides at the front.