Wat Bang Khae Noi

Wat Bang Khae Noi’s ordination hall is carved entirely from teak — walls, doors, and floor — a construction method rare enough that it’s often described as the only fully teak-carved ubosot in Thailand. Founded in 1868 by Khunying Chui (Jui) Wongsarot, the temple sits on the Mae Klong riverbank in Amphawa, a short trip from the Amphawa Floating Market. Entry is free, open daily from 08:00 to 17:00.

The hall’s interior walls are carved with the Ten Jataka Tales and scenes from the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and passing into nirvana, work attributed to craftsmen from Phetchaburi — a province still known for this style of woodcarving. The floor is laid with seven large teak planks, each about 2 inches thick and 39-40 inches wide, and the principal Buddha image sits in the Mara Vijaya (subduing Mara) posture on an oversized wooden pedestal. A separate hall on the grounds holds a wax figure of the revered monk Somdej Phra Phutthacharn, alongside a Buddha relic platform.

Insider Tip: Ask a temple attendant to point out the wood-inlay panels near the entrance before you head to the main carvings — the detail is easy to miss walking straight through to the ordination hall.

The riverside pavilion is a good spot to sit after the temple itself, with a breeze off the Mae Klong and views across to the opposite bank. Compared with the market crowds nearby, the grounds stay quiet outside of festival days, and local worshippers generally outnumber visitors.

Early morning, around 6-7 AM, coincides with monks’ alms rounds and is the quietest time to visit. The temple is reachable by the same routes as Amphawa Floating Market — minivan or private car from Bangkok — and pairs naturally with a stop at Wat Bang Khae Yai, founded by a related branch of the same family nearby. Cover shoulders and knees, and remove shoes before entering the ordination hall.