Wat Cha Thing Phra is historically linked to the ancient city of Sathing Phra, a key settlement on the Sathing Phra Peninsula that served as a major trade and religious hub in southern Thailand between the 12th–18th Buddhist centuries. Archaeological evidence—such as ancient bricks, chedis, and boundary walls—reflects the influence of Sri Lankan Theravada Buddhism transmitted through maritime trade networks.

The temple’s main chedi features a bell-shaped form on a square base, a style associated with Sri Lankan and Srivijaya art, and is believed to enshrine sacred relics. Its coral-brick construction highlights local coastal building techniques.

Within the complex, a “twelve-cornered” chedi base represents a distinctive southern Thai architectural style, showing a transition between indigenous design and external influences.

The reclining Buddha hall, known locally as “Phor Thao Non,” is not only artistically significant but also a spiritual center for the community. Its decorated gable reflects early Sri Lankan artistic influence tied to the spread of Buddhism across the Malay Peninsula.

Murals inside the hall are valuable ethnographic records, illustrating not only the life of the Buddha but also traditional dress, customs, and social conditions of the local people in the past.

In terms of legend, the temple is associated with the story of Nang Lueat Khao and the tale of Princess Hemmala and Prince Dantha Kumara, who brought sacred relics to the region. These narratives reflect a blend of Buddhism, local beliefs, and Indian–Sri Lankan cultural influences.

Overall, the temple is not just a religious site but an important testament to the historical, artistic, and cultural development of southern Thailand over more than a thousand years.