Wat Bang Oi Chang

Wat Bang Oi Chang is a village monastery in Bang Si Thong, on the western edge of Bang Kruai district in Nonthaburi. Its main draw is a Buddha image carved from a slab of laterite, believed to date back to the Sukhothai period — which would put it at 600 years old or more, among the older religious artefacts in the province.

The temple and its surrounding village take their name from the crop that once grew here: a sugarcane variety called “oi chang” (elephant sugarcane), historically cut and sent as tribute to feed the royal elephants kept in Ayutthaya. The area’s older name, Ban Suay Oi (“sugarcane-tribute village”), reflects the same history. Inside the temple grounds, a small museum room holds a second notable relic — a Buddha footprint cast in brass, roughly 54 by 19.5 inches, said to be more than 200 years old — alongside donated community items: old tools, photographs, and household objects from the village’s past.

Insider Tip: The museum room isn’t always staffed. If you want it opened, ask at the temple office rather than assuming it’s accessible on a self-guided wander through the grounds.

This is a working monastery rather than a tourist site, so visits are quiet and low-key — monks going about daily routines, occasional local visitors making merit, no crowds or vendors. It’s easily reached by car from central Bangkok as part of a Nonthaburi day trip rather than a standalone destination.

Watch out: As with any active ubosot, dress modestly and remove shoes before entering the main hall — this is a functioning place of worship, not a museum exhibit.

Two other Nonthaburi stops worth combining with a visit here are the Museum of Nonthaburi, which covers the province’s broader history, and Ko Kret, the Mon pottery-making river island a short drive away.