Wat Ban Don Shadow Play Museum

Wat Ban Don’s shadow play museum in Rayong holds one of only three surviving Nang Yai collections in Thailand — large carved-leather puppets used to narrate the Ramakien. Entry is free, and the museum is open daily from 9am to 5pm.

Experience

The collection traces back to 1888, when Rayong’s first provincial governor ordered around 200 Nang Yai figures from Phatthalung, shipped across the Gulf of Thailand, along with master puppeteers hired to train local performers. As pieces deteriorated over the following century, 77 replacement figures were carved to keep the set complete. The temple opened a dedicated museum building in 1991 to display and preserve the puppets — standing figures, walking characters, and elaborate multi-panel scenes depicting the Ramakien and Inao, some reserved for ritual use only.

Atmosphere & Timing

The museum sits within the working grounds of Wat Ban Don in Choeng Noen subdistrict, a few kilometres outside central Rayong. It’s a quiet, low-key stop — there’s no gift shop rush or tour-bus crowd, just the puppet hall and the temple around it. A Thai massage group also operates on-site.

Practical

Reach the temple via Highway 36 (the Rayong bypass) to the Ko Kloi intersection, then follow the signed turns toward Wat Ban Don. Entry is free with no fixed viewing time limit.

Insider Tip: Call ahead if you want to see the puppets in motion — the museum has no scheduled performance, and a live Nang Yai show has to be arranged with the temple several days in advance.

Watch out: This is a working temple compound, not a purpose-built visitor centre — dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, as you would at any wat.

Getting There

Wat Ban Don Shadow Play Museum is located at Mu 4 Wat Ban Don, Rayong. View on Google Maps. Rayong Old Town’s Yomjinda Road and Phra Chedi Klang Nam both make easy add-ons in the same area.