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ThailandDescription and Whether It's Worth Visiting
Wat Thong Thammachat Worawihan is a third-class royal temple in the Khlong San district on the Thonburi side. The exact founding date is unknown, but it's believed to have been built back in the Ayutthaya period. Originally it was called Wat Thong Bon – "temple of the golden nature," because there were two "golden" temples nearby, the second being Wat Thong Lang (Wat Thong Noppakhun). In the era of Rama I, the temple lay in ruins, and it was restored by the king's sister, Princess Kromluang Narintrathewi, together with her husband. And under Rama III, during the heyday of traditional Thai painting, the temple underwent a major reconstruction and received its current name.
The main reason to stop by here is the murals inside the ubosot (ordination hall). They were created in the Rama III era, considered the golden age of Thai temple painting. Four walls tell in detail the story of Buddha's life and the "Ten Great Births" (jataka tales). But what makes the paintings especially valuable is that the artists wove the everyday life of the Siamese of that era into the religious scenes: clothing, houses, the occupations of the people of early Rattanakosin. Examining these details is like leafing through an old chronicle written with a brush.
The temple itself is small and doesn't give the impression of "palace" splendor. It's more of a quiet community temple, which it has been for local residents for centuries. There are no crowds of tourists, tour groups or fuss here – only the shade of trees, quiet birdsong and, if you're lucky, a couple of local cats that come out to greet guests. In 1915, under Rama VI, the ubosot was almost completely rebuilt, but they tried to preserve the original appearance and style.
Is it worth going here specifically? If it's your first time in Bangkok and you have only a couple of days, it's hardly worth dedicating a separate item on your itinerary to this place. The temple isn't in the top must-see attractions and is inferior in scale to Wat Pho or Wat Arun. But if you've already seen the main temples and palaces, are tired of tourist crowds and want to see something real – Wat Thong Thammachat is an excellent option. Especially since it's just a few minutes' walk from ICONSIAM and the Khlong San area, so it's easy to combine with a walk around this part of the city.
🕐 Opening Hours
The temple is open daily from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. During religious ceremonies the schedule may change.
💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Prices
Admission to the temple is free.
🚶 How to Get There
Wat Thong Thammachat Worawihan is in the Khlong San district on the Thonburi side, on the other side of the Chao Phraya River from the historic Rattanakosin area. In fact it's opposite Chinatown. Address: 141 Somdet Chao Phraya Rd, Khlong San, Bangkok 10600 (temple on the map).
The easiest way is to take the metro to BTS Khlong San station. From there it's about a 10–15 minute walk to the temple.
A second option from Chinatown is to walk across the Phra Phutthayotfa Bridge (Memorial Bridge). But that's only if you want a leisurely stroll and to feel the atmosphere of the area: from the bridge to the temple it's about a kilometer and a half along a winding route.
A third option from Chinatown is to take the ferry between Wat Thong Thammachat Pier and Sawatdi Pier, and from the pier walk 5 minutes. This is the shortest route from the river side.
Friends, a reminder that it's much more interesting to explore Bangkok's attractions with guided tours, so we suggest checking out options with online booking and reviews on these Russian-language tour aggregators: