Rating: 3.8/5 (4 votes)

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.00 – 16.30

 

Wat Chimphli Sutthawat, known among the Mon community as “Phia To,” is one of the most culturally significant temples on Ko Kret in Nonthaburi. Its greatest distinction is its small but exceptionally beautiful old ordination hall, often regarded as one of the finest in the province. For travelers who want to experience a quieter, more historically layered side of Ko Kret, this temple is one of the island’s most rewarding stops.

 

Many visitors to Ko Kret focus first on Wat Poramai Yikawat, pottery workshops, or the island’s famous food and market atmosphere. Wat Chimphli Sutthawat offers something different. It is less crowded, more contemplative, and especially appealing to those who appreciate old temple architecture, Ayutthaya heritage, and the deeper cultural texture of the island. Rather than functioning mainly as a busy tourist landmark, it feels like a preserved historical space within a living Mon cultural landscape.

 

The temple is located in Moo 1, Ban Lat Kret, Ko Kret Subdistrict, Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi, on the southern side of Ko Kret along the Lad Kret waterway. This setting matters. Ko Kret is not just a weekend destination but a historic Mon settlement shaped by river movement, canal life, and religious institutions. Wat Chimphli Sutthawat reflects that history clearly, both in its local identity and in the atmosphere of the site itself.

 

The temple dates back to the Ayutthaya period and was originally called Wat Pa Fai. At one stage, it was abandoned, together with the neighboring Wat Pa Lelai. Historical interpretation commonly suggests that King Rama II later restored the temple and gave it the new name Wat Chimphli. This interpretation is often connected to the king’s earlier princely name, Chai Chim, while the addition of “Sutthawat” gives the temple a more elevated and courtly tone. Whether one approaches the temple through history, architecture, or local culture, it is clear that Wat Chimphli Sutthawat occupies an important place in the heritage of Ko Kret.

 

Its greatest claim to distinction is the old ordination hall. Though small in scale, it is celebrated for its beauty and balance. The structure is a maha-ut style ordination hall that still preserves many features associated with Ayutthaya-period architecture. The curved base resembles the hull of a Chinese junk, giving the building an elegant visual foundation. The doorway and window frames are designed in the refined female-face arch style, while the wooden gable carving shows a divine figure riding a royal chariot surrounded by floral motifs and pavilion-like decorative elements. The result is a building that feels both compact and remarkably complete.

 

What makes the ordination hall especially memorable is the way its details remain readable even today. The proportions are graceful, the decorative language is restrained but sophisticated, and the entire structure retains a strong sense of age and craftsmanship. This is not a temple building that overwhelms through scale. Instead, it impresses through refinement. For travelers interested in Thai sacred architecture, it is one of the clearest examples on Ko Kret of how small temple buildings can possess extraordinary artistic presence.

 

The area around the ordination hall adds further importance to the site. To the north stands a major twelve-cornered chedi, surrounded by four smaller chedis. Together they create one of the temple’s strongest visual compositions and give the grounds a distinctly historic character. The setting is further enriched by large slate boundary stones, regarded as the largest in Pak Kret, as well as oversized Chinese guardian figures placed beside the enclosure gate of the ordination hall. These elements make the temple valuable not only as a place of worship, but also as a study site for architectural and decorative history.

 

Inside the ordination hall there were once an important principal Buddha image and an Ayutthaya-style crowned Buddha image of smaller scale. These sacred images were later stolen, which is itself an indication of how valuable the artistic contents of the temple once were. Even without those original images, the ordination hall remains exceptionally important. The surviving architecture still communicates the quality of the site and the level of craftsmanship that once defined its interior.

 

Another distinctive dimension of Wat Chimphli Sutthawat is its connection to the Mon community. The Mon name “Phia To” shows that the temple has long existed within a living local cultural framework, not merely a formal Thai administrative one. This matters because Ko Kret is one of the most visible Mon heritage areas near Bangkok, and the temple helps visitors understand that heritage in a more grounded way. Language, place, ritual space, and architectural memory all overlap here.

 

In practical travel terms, the temple is ideal for visitors who want a slower, more thoughtful Ko Kret experience. Because it is quieter than the island’s most crowded attractions, it gives more room for observation. Travelers can spend time studying the ordination hall, viewing the chedi group, walking through the grounds, and absorbing the stillness of the site. This is especially appealing for photographers, architecture enthusiasts, cultural travelers, and anyone who wants to see a more contemplative side of Ko Kret.

 

The temple also works well within a one-day Ko Kret route. It can be combined with Wat Poramai Yikawat, Wat Pa Lelai, Wat Phai Lom, Wat Sao Thong Thong, and the pottery community areas of the island. This makes it an excellent stop for travelers who want to go beyond the market zone and understand Ko Kret as a network of religious, artistic, and community spaces rather than only a leisure destination.

 

Getting There is easiest by boat. Most visitors start from Wat Sanam Nuea on the Pak Kret side, take the ferry across to Ko Kret, and then continue on foot or by bicycle to the temple. A local travel review notes that the boat ride from Wat Sanam Nuea to the area near the temple takes about 6–7 minutes, which fits the usual visitor experience on the island. If you come by private car, it is most practical to park on the mainland side near the ferry area and continue onto Ko Kret by boat, since the island is mainly explored on foot or by bicycle rather than by car.

 

The best time to visit is from morning to early afternoon, when the weather is still comfortable and the temple remains relatively calm. Morning light is especially good for viewing the details of the old ordination hall and the chedi group. Even on weekends, when Ko Kret becomes more active, Wat Chimphli Sutthawat usually feels quieter than the island’s commercial areas. As with any active Thai temple, respectful dress and calm behavior are expected.

 

Wat Chimphli Sutthawat is therefore one of Ko Kret’s most important historic temples for visitors who want more than a quick sightseeing stop. It combines Ayutthaya roots, early Rattanakosin restoration, Mon cultural identity, and one of the most beautiful small ordination halls in Nonthaburi. For foreign travelers interested in authentic heritage rather than only popular check-in points, this temple offers one of the island’s richest and most memorable experiences.

 

 

A: It is located in Moo 1, Ban Lat Kret, Ko Kret Subdistrict, Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi, on the southern side of Ko Kret.

 

A: Its greatest highlight is the exceptionally beautiful old ordination hall, regarded as one of the finest small temple buildings in Nonthaburi.

 

A: The temple dates back to the Ayutthaya period and was originally known as Wat Pa Fai.

 

A: The easiest way is to take the ferry from Wat Sanam Nuea to Ko Kret and then continue on foot or by bicycle.

 

A: The temple is open daily from 08.00 to 16.30.

 

A: It is ideal for heritage-focused travelers, temple architecture enthusiasts, cultural visitors, and anyone wanting a quieter side of Ko Kret.

 

A: Mon locals call the temple “Phia To.”