Chao Pho Thepharak-Chao Mae Thapthim Shrine

Chao Pho Thepharak-Chao Mae Thapthim Shrine sits on stilts above the Chao Phraya River in Pak Nam Pho, directly opposite Nakhon Sawan’s riverside market, at the exact point where the Ping and Nan rivers merge. It’s the largest Chinese shrine in the province, free to enter, and open daily from 05:00 to 17:00.

No one can say precisely when the shrine was founded, but a bronze bell inside carries the clearest clue: a Chinese inscription records that Hong Piao Sae Phu, from Kheh Chia San village in Hainan, donated it in 1870, early in the reign of King Rama V. Locals take that as evidence the shrine itself is well over 130 years old. It began as a wooden structure on high stilts further upstream, and when riverbank erosion undermined that site, villagers and worshippers rebuilt it in its current spot in 1909, adding a Guan Yu shrine alongside it.

Inside the half-timbered hall, Chao Pho Thepharak — usually called Pun Tao Kong by Thai-Chinese visitors — presides at the centre. Guan Yu, the god of loyalty and martial strength, stands to the right; Chao Mae Thapthim, protector of rivers and fishermen, to the left; and a Heaven and Earth Goddess altar completes the arrangement. People come to ask for protection and good fortune, lighting incense and leaving offerings of fruit and flowers.

Insider Tip: Step out to the riverbank behind the shrine for the view locals come for — the meeting of two rivers, often visibly different shades of brown and green before they fully mix into the Chao Phraya.

Chinese New Year is when the shrine comes alive: a procession carries its deities on a circuit of Pak Nam Pho Market, with a fire-walking ceremony and mediums performing in trance, watched by crowds several rows deep along the market street. Outside festival dates, the shrine is a quiet, working place of worship rather than a tourist stop, so dress modestly and keep voices low if people are praying.

The shrine stands right at the point where the Chao Phraya River begins, and the nearby Phasan Building viewpoint gives an elevated look at the same confluence — an easy pairing if you’re exploring Pak Nam Pho on foot.