Wat Bang Aek

Rating: 3.8/5 (5 votes)

Operating day: Daily

Operating time: 08.00 - 17.00

 

Wat Bang Aek Sam Chuk, Sam Chuk, Suphan Buri. If you're seeking a religious site with supernatural stories in Suphan Buri, Wat Bang Aek is a noteworthy destination. Currently, only the ruins of the ancient site and a centuries-old Bodhi tree remain.

 

Throughout the year, almost every night, the temple hosts open-air movies, folk performances like likay, and traditional Thai music shows. These are offered as acts of gratitude by those who had made vows to the temple and had their wishes fulfilled. Particularly after the lottery results are announced, nearly every night features a performance. Beyond its supernatural stories, the temple grounds have also yielded numerous ancient relics and statues during excavations decades ago.

 

Wat Bang Aek is located along Highway 340, about 4 km past Sam Chuk Market, heading toward Bueng Chawak. Pass Wat Ban Thueng and look for a curve in the road. At the end of the curve, you’ll see the Bodhi tree and a pavilion on the left—this is Wat Bang Aek. While it might be easily overlooked by casual travelers, those who know its history often stop to pay their respects and make offerings.

 

Approximately 40 years ago, during road construction for the Suphan Buri–Chainat Highway (Route 340), locals discovered bronze statues related to Brahmanism, such as those of Lord Shiva, Ganesha, Goddess Uma Devi, kris daggers, bracelets, and more. The relics were found near Wat Bang Khuak and Wat Bang Aek. Many were taken by locals, with some keeping them for worship and others selling them for thousands of baht. By the time the Fine Arts Department intervened, most relics were gone. Today, these artifacts are said to be worth millions. There are also legends among mystical practitioners about treasures still buried beneath the ruins of Wat Bang Aek. Attempts to excavate during the road expansion led to numerous accidents and fatalities, which were deemed supernatural. This halted the project, leaving only the ruins and the Bodhi tree intact. The Fine Arts Department has since registered the site as a national historical landmark.

 

Going back 60–70 years, my father, a rice trader, often traveled between Bangkok and Suphan Buri. Back then, the route from Sam Chuk’s sluice gate to Nang Buach required walking through forests as roads were non-existent. One night, after visiting my mother’s house in Nang Buach, he lost his way near Wat Bang Aek, surrounded by bamboo groves. Despite being familiar with the path, he wandered aimlessly for hours in the pitch-black night. Frightened, he knelt to the ground in prayer. When he looked up, dawn had broken. This harrowing experience left him shaken, and he fell ill, requiring rituals to cleanse him of his fear.

 

One of Wat Bang Aek’s most enduring tales involves a notorious outlaw named Seua Klap, who once made a vow at the temple. During an era rife with banditry, Seua Klap and his gang robbed Suphan Buri’s markets and fled north toward Sam Chuk, stopping at Wat Bang Aek. There, he promised the temple’s sacred Buddha statue that the robbery would be his last, as he needed money for his ailing mother’s medicine. He vowed to ordain as a monk if he evaded capture.

 

When the pursuing authorities arrived and saw Seua Klap’s boat, they searched the temple grounds but failed to find him, despite him praying inside the ordination hall. Believing he had escaped, they left. However, Seua Klap did not keep his promise and continued his criminal activities. During another robbery, a storm forced him to dock near Wat Bang Aek. Coincidentally, the police caught up with him, resulting in a deadly confrontation. By dawn, Seua Klap’s lifeless body was found before the temple’s Buddha statue. Locals believe his death was the result of breaking his solemn vow.

 

Wat Bang Aek was established during the reign of King Uthong, the first monarch of Ayutthaya. At the time, a severe plague forced the king to lead his people away from the capital. Upon reaching Ban Thueng, their cart axle broke, requiring them to stop and repair it. King Uthong ordered the construction of three temples in the area: Wat Bang Aek, Wat Ro, and Wat Ban Thueng. These temples serve as lasting reminders of that historical journey.

 

Wat Bang Aek continues to captivate visitors with its supernatural stories and historical roots, making it a unique and intriguing site in Suphan Buri.