Vatt Khmer Lowell

Vatt Khmer Lowell
Alternative names	Vatt Khmer Lowell & The Khmer American Cultural Center; Khmer American Cultural Center
Type	Wat
Focus areas	Khmer Buddhist temple and planned Khmer American cultural center; 84,000 Buddha Capital Campaign
Subjects	Religion & Spiritual Life; History & Remembrance
City	Lowell
State / province	Massachusetts
Country	United States
Address	66 Townsend Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854
Website	Website
Contact	[email protected]
Phone	(215) 605-1589
Operating status	active

Vatt Khmer Lowell is a Khmer Buddhist temple and community site on Townsend Avenue in Lowell, Massachusetts, with a larger temple and Khmer American Cultural Center planned for the property. Its stated mission is to preserve the memory of those who suffered and survived, to keep Khmer culture and the Buddhist tradition alive for future generations, and to build a place where the community and its neighbors can gather. (Vatt Khmer Lowell, About and Contact; The Lowell Sun (August 17, 2025))

History

A June 2022 Buddhistdoor account identifies the Community Of Khmer Buddhist Monks (CKBM), incorporated in 1993, as the organization behind the initiative. In 2011 the community bought 12 acres and built a temple, a monastic residence and a public shrine, the focus of cultural and religious events at the site. The June 2022 account described a planned 30,000-square-foot temple and cultural space intended to give children of Cambodian heritage a place to learn the Khmer language and culture. (Buddhistdoor Global, When the Dharma came to Lowell (June 2022))

As of August 2025, the temple held events under a tent on the property, and its board president gave 2030 as the target for the larger building. (The Lowell Sun (August 17, 2025))

84,000 Buddha Capital Campaign

The temple is raising funds through the 84,000 Buddha Capital Campaign, with a $20 million goal. In September 2026 its website reported $1,197,107 raised. (Vatt Khmer Lowell, official website)

In September 2026, the official website described a planned 31,400-square-foot structure containing temple space, meditation rooms, a museum, library, classrooms and community-gathering facilities. These are development plans, not a description of completed visitor facilities. (Vatt Khmer Lowell, official website)

Leadership

Abbot: Ven. Bora Ngath
Board president: Samkhann Khoeun, who helped found the Lowell Southeast Asian Water Festival in 1997 (Vatt Khmer Lowell, About and Contact)

Visiting and participation

Address: 66 Townsend Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854
Phone: (215) 605-1589
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://vattkhmerlowell.com/ (Vatt Khmer Lowell, About and Contact)

The site supports religious and community activity while the larger complex is being developed. Contact the temple to confirm visitor access and event arrangements. (Vatt Khmer Lowell, About and Contact)

Associations

Vatt Khmer Lowell & Khmer American Cultural Center Inc (associated organization).
Legal name: Vatt Khmer Lowell & Khmer American Cultural Center Inc.
Registration identifiers: EIN (United States): 83-1553702.
The official site identifies this as the temple and cultural center's 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. ProPublica's registry-derived listing gives the full legal name and the same identifier. (ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, Vatt Khmer Lowell & Khmer American Cultural Center Inc)
(Vatt Khmer Lowell, About and Contact)

relationship checked 2026-09-25.

Community Of Khmer Buddhist Monks (associated organization). Organization details: Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks.
Buddhistdoor's June 2022 account identifies this organization, incorporated in 1993, as being behind the temple initiative. This entry records that historical project relationship.
(Buddhistdoor Global, When the Dharma Came to Lowell)

relationship checked 2026-09-25.

Sources