Wat Nak Klang Worawihan

Rating: 3.8/5 (15 votes)

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 09:00 – 17:00

 

Wat Nak Klang Worawihan is a third-class royal monastery (Worawihan category) that remains closely tied to everyday community life on the Thonburi side of Bangkok. While it is often listed among “things to do in Bangkok” for travelers who enjoy visiting historic temples, a closer look reveals something more grounded: this is a living place of faith where locals genuinely come and go, make merit, and continue regular chanting and meditation practice. It is an urban temple with real continuity, not merely a stop for sightseeing.

 

According to long-circulated historical accounts, Wat Nak Klang Worawihan dates back to the late Ayutthaya period. The age of a temple like this is often felt through the way its sacred precinct has retained its core religious role while the surrounding spaces were adjusted, era by era, to fit the practical needs of the community. As you enter, it helps to slow your pace and “read the temple” through what is physically present: pathways, key buildings, and traces of restoration that show how faith and history occupy the same ground.

 

The central sacred object of worship is the main Buddha image in the ordination hall, Luang Pho Phra Phuttha Prasit. It is a stucco Buddha image in the meditation posture, lacquered and gilded, with a lap width of 71 inches and a height of 108 inches. The craftsmanship of gilded stucco conveys a deliberate intention to create a dignified focal point for devotion, especially when light catches the gold surface and enhances the stillness and calm of the meditation posture.

 

Another revered image that many visitors specifically come to pay respects to is Luang Pho Khon Samo Maha Lap. Depicted in the “eating myrobalan / holding myrobalan” posture, the image sits in the vajra posture with a victory-over-Mara stance. What makes it especially engaging to observe is the set of stylistic details that hint at broader artistic influences: the robe arrangement that resembles Chinese and Tibetan conventions, the lotus-bud-style ushnisha, and the left hand holding a myrobalan fruit. In Buddhist tradition, myrobalan is considered a medicinal item permitted for monastics. A local legend adds that the image floated downstream from the north and was enshrined at this temple hundreds of years ago, giving the statue both artistic meaning and a deep layer of communal memory.

 

Beyond the ordination-hall precinct, the temple also features Sala Sutham Bhavana, a space linked to the Thonburi era. Inside are Phra Phuttha Nimit (Luang Pho Thong) and a series of royal statues of King Taksin the Great in various postures, totaling 9 and a half figures, accompanied by his trusted tiger-guard soldiers. The overall setting suggests that the temple does more than host Buddhist ritual life; it also functions as a place of remembrance for the great warrior-king who restored Siam’s independence, expressed through forms of devotion that visitors can readily engage with.

 

For visitors, one practical detail matters: access to key sacred buildings is scheduled in time windows. The ordination hall is open for worship from 07:30 – 08:45 and again from 18:00 – 19:00. Meanwhile, Sala Sutham Bhavana is open from 08:00 – 17:00. The community also maintains daily chanting and meditation practice. Another noteworthy rhythm is held every Sunday at 15:39, when the community chants and practices meditation with “Itipiso 108” dedicated to King Taksin the Great. This is especially meaningful for those who want to experience a temple where rituals are actively practiced, rather than visiting only for a quiet walk-through.

 

Getting There If you are traveling by rail, take the MRT to Itsaraphap Station and continue by a short local ride or walk, depending on what feels comfortable. If you are driving, it is wise to allow extra time, as traffic in the Bangkok Yai area can become dense in certain periods, especially on weekends or during merit-making events. Using navigation maps can help you choose the most convenient route into the neighborhood at that moment.

 

Before entering important buildings, dress modestly, keep your voice low, and avoid touching fragile artworks or decorative elements. If you want to enjoy the atmosphere and observe details more comfortably, early morning or late afternoon is ideal, because the heat is less intense and the light helps reveal the texture of materials and surfaces.

 

 

A: It is known both for its status as a royal monastery and for key sacred objects such as Luang Pho Phra Phuttha Prasit in the ordination hall, Luang Pho Khon Samo Maha Lap, and Sala Sutham Bhavana, which connects the temple to Thonburi-era history.

 

A: The image is depicted in the “eating/holding myrobalan” posture, with a distinctive detail of the left hand holding a myrobalan fruit. This relates to the Buddhist idea of permitted medicinal items, and local tradition also tells a story of the image floating downstream from the north before being enshrined here.

 

A: Access is provided in time windows: 07:30 – 08:45 and 18:00 – 19:00. Sala Sutham Bhavana is generally open from 08:00 – 17:00.

 

A: Every Sunday at 15:39, the temple holds chanting and meditation of “Itipiso 108” dedicated to King Taksin the Great. Visitors who wish to join should dress modestly and follow the temple’s etiquette.

 

A: Yes. Take the MRT to Itsaraphap Station, then continue by a short local ride or walk, depending on what is most convenient.