Wat Sala Daeng Nuea

Rating: 3.1/5 (8 votes)

Open Days: Open daily

Opening Hours: 08:00 – 17:00

 

Wat Sala Daeng Nuea is a historic Mon temple located along the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River in Chiang Rak Noi, Sam Khok District, Pathum Thani Province. The temple stands as an important religious and cultural landmark, reflecting the long-standing heritage of the Mon community in Thailand.

 

The temple was founded around 1839 by Mon migrants from Martaban who settled in the region after fleeing conflict. It later received royal recognition in 1866, becoming an established Buddhist temple and a center of community life.

 

The name “Sala Daeng” comes from a Mon term meaning “red wooden temple,” symbolizing both the natural landscape of their homeland and the cultural identity carried into their new settlement.

 

Inside the temple, visitors can explore several significant structures, including a wooden sermon hall originally relocated from a royal theater in Bangkok in 1874, featuring intricate Rattanakosin-era carvings. The ordination hall houses a Buddha image from the Ayutthaya period, highlighting the temple’s artistic and historical value.

 

The temple complex also features a Mon-style stupa by the river, a scripture hall built over water in 1930, and monk residences influenced by Western architectural styles. These elements create a unique blend of cultural and historical features rarely found together.

 

The temple continues to preserve Mon traditions, particularly chanting in the Mon language, which remains part of daily religious practice and provides visitors with a rare opportunity to experience living cultural heritage.

 

At present, Wat Sala Daeng Nuea is led by Phra Khru Pathum Thammaphilat (Thawee), who serves as the abbot. The temple continues to play an important role in the surrounding community through religious activities and local traditions.

 

Getting There The temple can be reached from Bangkok by car via Pathum Thani–Sam Khok Road or Tiwanon Road. It is also accessible by boat along the Chao Phraya River for those seeking a scenic journey.

 

 

A: It is in Sam Khok District, Pathum Thani, along the Chao Phraya River.

 

A: It preserves Mon culture and traditional chanting.

 

A: Yes, it is open every day.

 

A: Phra Khru Pathum Thammaphilat (Thawee).

 

A: By car or boat from Bangkok.