The approval for establishing the temple was on 2 October 1997 and received the royal decree of royal land granting for constructing a temple on 29 September 2000. Phra Thep Vachirayanasophon Vi.(Yuen Kantipalo) became its Abbot in the Dhammayuth Order. The surroundings are forest and Mountains abundant with various varieties of flora, rare herbs as well as wild animals i.e. Toucans, Silvered Langur, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Palm Civet, etc. and is also the source of rivers and streams enabling the reservoir at Ban Charas to facilitate farming. The view is superb with a peaceful and shady embience appropriate for practicing Dharmma and Conservation Tourism.
Important venues in the premises of the temple are Phra Buddha Baramee Sayamburipitak Buddha statue (Buddha protected by the Mythical Serpent pose), Phra Phu Sala Cliff (Nang Koi Cliff), Chedi Nam Sab Stupa, Trai Kiri Waterfall, Phra Buddha Metta replica of the original statue in Bodh Gaya, India which has a lap width of 10 meters (situated at the Helicopter Pad), Replica of the Buddha’s Footprint, Luang Por Than Jai Buddha statue (situated at Phra Phu Sala Cliff), Biggest White Jade statue of the goddess Guan Yin in Southern E-sarn region (situated at Phra Phu Sala Cliff), Luang Por Buddhasothorn Chapel, Phra Ariyachedi Stupa, Lord Naga Tunnel length of 230 meters (longest in the world) and a 28 km. long concrete wall surrounding the forest.
1993 The Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives followed a Cabinet’s resolution to allow the construction of a temple in forest and the Suranaree Force carried out a project for supporting Buddhism for the conservation of the forest and to develop a Buddhist Park in an area of 17,384,000 sq.m.
2004 Selected as the third Dharmma Practice site of Surin (Dhammayuth Order)
2014 H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great accepted the area of the Buddhist Park Project of Wat Khao Sala Atulthanajaro into the Royal Initiatives Projects
2017 Handover of the concrete wall enclosing the forest to H.M. King Rama IX
The origins of the name “Wat Khao Sala Atulthanajaro”
Khao Sala Original name of the area the temple is built on as named by the local community
Atula Designated Buddhist name of Luang Pu Dul Atulo (Homage to spiritual teacher)
Thanajaro Last name of General Chetta Thanajaro (Homage to Disciple Supporter of the temple)