Wat Charoen Sukharam Worawihan

Operating day: Daily

Operating time: 08.00 - 17.00

 

Wat Charoen Sukharam Worawihan is a third-class royal temple of the Mahanikaya order located in Moo 5, Bang Nok Khwaek, Bang Khonthi District, Samut Songkhram Province. It stands in one of the most culturally interesting parts of the province, only a short distance from the Nativity of Our Lady Cathedral. Because of this setting, the temple is not only important as a Buddhist site, but also as part of the wider religious and historical landscape of Bang Nok Khwaek.

 

In the clearest summary, Wat Charoen Sukharam Worawihan is notable for 3 main reasons. First, it is an old temple that evolved through several historical names before being elevated to royal temple status. Second, it houses the revered Luang Pho To, a large laterite Buddha image in the Sukhothai style. Third, its ordination hall has a distinctive curved ceiling resembling the canopy of a boat, giving the temple a memorable architectural identity.

 

The site was originally an abandoned temple, and its earliest foundation date is unknown. It was restored in 1883 and became known locally as Wat Klang Khlong or Wat Ton Chomphu. These earlier names reflect the canal-based environment and orchard culture of Bang Nok Khwaek, where waterways shaped both settlement and temple life.

 

Later, when the Bang Nok Khwaek watergate was constructed in 1908, the temple came to be known as Wat Pratunam Bang Nok Khwaek. This phase is important because it shows how the temple became associated with the hydraulic and transport infrastructure of the community. In canal-side Samut Songkhram, such connections between temples, waterways, and local movement are central to understanding how communities developed.

 

In the time of Phra Athikan At, the temple name was formally changed to Wat Charoen Sukharam. Later, in 1957, it was elevated to the status of a third-class royal temple under the name Wat Charoen Sukharam Worawihan. This was a major turning point in the temple’s history and reflects its importance at both local and ecclesiastical levels.

 

The temple also played an important role in education in the past. It supported monastic studies, teacher training, public education, secondary education, adult education, and Sunday Buddhist schooling. This means that Wat Charoen Sukharam Worawihan was not only a place of worship, but also a major educational center for the Bang Nok Khwaek area for many decades.

 

Architecturally, the temple’s most distinctive feature is its ordination hall with a curved ceiling shaped like a boat canopy. This is the feature that many visitors remember most clearly. It gives the interior a strong sense of character and makes the temple different from many other temples in Samut Songkhram.

 

Inside the ubosot is Luang Pho To, a revered Buddha image in the Mara-vijaya posture, created in laterite in the Sukhothai style. The image measures 178 centimeters across the lap and 208 centimeters in height from the pedestal to the top. It was brought from an abandoned temple in Ratchaburi and later enshrined here as the principal Buddha image. Luang Pho To is highly respected by both Thai and Chinese devotees, which gives the temple a broad devotional appeal.

 

The temple also has a four-gabled viharn, and behind it stands the chedi containing the ashes of the first abbot. These elements add further depth to the complex and help visitors appreciate how the temple has developed across generations.

 

Another unusual feature of the temple is the preserved World War II bomb found in front of the temple, reportedly dropped by Allied aircraft. The temple has kept and cared for this object, which gives the site a modern historical dimension beyond its religious and architectural significance.

 

Today, the temple remains active and continues to serve the Bang Nok Khwaek community. Recent public information identifies the abbot as Phra Watcharawikrom (Phra Kru Samut Panyaphon), confirming that the temple is still functioning with resident monks and ongoing religious activities rather than serving only as a historical attraction.

 

Its location is especially appealing for travelers because it is only about 500 meters from the Nativity of Our Lady Cathedral. This makes it possible to explore important Buddhist and Catholic heritage sites within the same neighborhood, a combination that is quite distinctive in Samut Songkhram.

 

For visitors planning a wider route, Wat Charoen Sukharam Worawihan fits well into a Bang Nok Khwaek–Bang Khonthi–Amphawa itinerary. Nearby places include the cathedral, Bang Nok Khwaek Floating Market, Wat Bang Khae Noi, Wat Bang Kung, and Amphawa Floating Market. It is therefore an excellent stop for travelers interested in royal temples, canal communities, local history, and architecture.

 

Getting There is easiest by private car along the Samut Songkhram–Bang Nok Khwaek route. After passing the Nativity of Our Lady Cathedral and crossing the Bang Nok Khwaek Bridge, the road into the temple is about 500 meters ahead. The route connects easily onward to Amphawa and other cultural destinations in Bang Khonthi.

 

 

A: The temple is located at 25 Moo 5, Bang Nok Khwaek, Bang Khonthi District, Samut Songkhram Province, close to the Nativity of Our Lady Cathedral.

 

A: Its most distinctive feature is the ordination hall with a curved ceiling shaped like a boat canopy, together with the revered Luang Pho To laterite Buddha image.

 

A: Luang Pho To is an ancient Sukhothai-style Buddha image made of laterite, brought from an abandoned temple in Ratchaburi and now enshrined as the principal image here.

 

A: The current abbot is Phra Watcharawikrom, also known as Phra Kru Samut Panyaphon.

 

A: It is ideal for travelers interested in royal temples, canal communities, Buddhist heritage, and combining the visit with the nearby cathedral and Bang Nok Khwaek cultural area.

 

A: Nearby places include the Nativity of Our Lady Cathedral, Bang Nok Khwaek Floating Market, Wat Bang Khae Noi, Wat Bang Kung, and Amphawa Floating Market.