Wat Phaiyont Phon Sep Ratchaworawihan

Rating: 3.8/5 (5 votes)

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08:00 – 17:00

 

Wat Phaiyont Phon Sep Ratchaworawihan is a second-class royal temple located in Bang Phueng Subdistrict, Phra Pradaeng District, Samut Prakan Province. The temple is one of the most historically significant religious sites in old Phra Pradaeng and stands out for its Chinese Buddhist architectural style, which gives it a distinctly different appearance from many other central Thai temples.

 

Historical chronicles state that King Rama II ordered Krom Muen Sakdiphonlasep to complete the unfinished construction of Nakhon Khuean Khan. This work included building Pom Phet Hueng and digging a shortcut canal. Along this newly excavated canal, a temple was established and later became known as Wat Phaiyont Phon Sep. This background makes the temple closely tied to the historical development of Phra Pradaeng as an important frontier town in the early Rattanakosin period.

 

Somdet Krom Phraya Damrong Rajanubhab later suggested that the temple may originally have been called Wat Krom Sak or Wat Pak Lat, and that during the reign of King Rama III it might have been known as Wat Wang Na before eventually receiving the name Wat Phaiyont Phon Sep. This layered naming history adds depth to the temple’s identity and makes it especially interesting for visitors who enjoy historical temples with strong documentary connections.

 

The temple’s most distinctive architectural feature is its Chinese-style ordination hall. The structure is built of brick and plaster, without the usual Thai chofa and bai raka roof finials. Instead, it uses green sandstone boundary stones and Chinese stone lions at the stairways. Inside, the hall combines Thai decorative craftsmanship with Chinese structural influence. The window panels are decorated with gilded lacquer designs showing Himmapan forest scenes and mythical animals, creating a rich visual atmosphere.

 

The principal Buddha image inside the ordination hall is in the Mara-Vijaya posture. It is placed on a highly important teakwood busabok with a prang-shaped top. This busabok once held the Phra Phuttha Sihing image at Phutthaisawan Hall in the Front Palace. Later, after the Phra Phuttha Sihing image was moved, the old prang-topped busabok remained unused until it was eventually brought here in the reign of King Rama III to enshrine the temple’s principal Buddha image. This gives Wat Phaiyont Phon Sep Ratchaworawihan exceptional artistic and historical value.

 

The temple also contains four directional viharas, each built in a Chinese architectural style. Inside are sculptures of deities with different body colors, including a four-faced Brahma figure believed to have once decorated the royal cremation structure of the Front Palace during the reign of King Rama III. These elements make the temple particularly valuable for those interested in royal-associated art and old ceremonial sculpture.

 

Another notable sacred image is the cast-metal Luang Pho Net image at the front portico of the vihara. Along the inner walls of the vihara are niches containing 44 seated Buddha images, each with a lap width of about 16 inches. At the rear portico of the vihara, visitors can also pay respect to a replica Buddha footprint, adding another devotional layer to the temple’s sacred landscape.

 

The overall atmosphere of the temple is calm, dignified, and historically rich. Visitors who enjoy architecture, temple history, and unusual artistic detail will find Wat Phaiyont Phon Sep Ratchaworawihan especially rewarding. Its Chinese temple form, royal associations, and preserved sacred objects make it one of the most distinctive temples in the Phra Pradaeng area.

 

Today, the temple remains open for worship and visitation. It is suitable for merit-making, historical exploration, and cultural tourism. Since the temple is also close to several other attractions in Phra Pradaeng, it works very well as part of a one-day travel itinerary near Bangkok.

 

Getting There The temple is accessible via Phraya Ratchawiriyaphon Road in Phra Pradaeng District. It is convenient to reach by private car, taxi, or local transport. Travelers can also continue on to nearby temples, markets, and green spaces in the same trip.

 

 

A: It is located in Bang Phueng Subdistrict, Phra Pradaeng District, Samut Prakan Province.

 

A: It is known for its Chinese Buddhist architectural style, ordination hall without chofa, and historic prang-topped busabok.

 

A: Its origins date to the reign of King Rama II and are connected with the development of Nakhon Khuean Khan.

 

A: Phra Kru Wimon Silakhun (Uthen Akkhawaro) as the acting abbot.

 

A: Visitors can see the principal Buddha image on the historic busabok, Luang Pho Net, 44 seated Buddha images, and a replica Buddha footprint.

 

A: You can continue to Wat Prodket Chettharam, Phra Pradaeng Market, Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park, and Bang Nam Phueng Floating Market.