Wat Rai Khing, Buddhist temple in Sam Phran district, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
Wat Rai Khing is a Buddhist temple in Sam Phran district, Nakhon Pathom province, spreading along the Tha Chin River. The complex includes several prayer halls, ceremonial buildings, and pavilions with curved roofs and gilded details typical of Thai temple architecture.
The temple was founded in 1791 during the reign of King Rama IV, when the area was still thinly settled. Somdej Phra Phuttha Chan named it after the local district Rai Khing, then known for its rice fields and riverbanks.
The main Buddha figure shows him in the position that marks the moment he resisted temptation and reached enlightenment. This form follows Chiang Saen craftsmanship from northern kingdoms, still honored across the region today.
You can reach the temple via Petchkasem Road, where food stalls open on weekends and visitors can try local dishes. A dedicated area near the riverbank allows feeding fish, which draws families with children.
A natural sanctuary near the riverbank hosts large schools of iridescent sharks and black-spotted catfish that gather close to shore. Visitors can watch and feed these fish, turning the place into an unexpected nature encounter.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.