Wat Champa Thong

Wat Champa Thong sits on the Noi River in Tha Chang district, Sing Buri — a working temple whose main draws are two specific, verifiable objects rather than generic “peaceful temple grounds.” The first is Reua Champa Thong Singburi, a wooden royal barge once used by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn during a river procession along the Noi River; it’s preserved on the temple grounds. The second is a large reclining Buddha built in Rattanakosin art style, housed in its own hall.

Local records date the temple’s founding to around 1794, in the late Ayutthaya period. It was originally called Wat Mae Thong, after an abandoned temple site where a wandering monk is said to have stayed; it was later renamed Wat Champa Thong to match the village that grew up around it. That history places the temple in Sing Buri’s own Ayutthaya-era story — not as an overflow stop for visitors coming from Ayutthaya city, which sits in a different province entirely.

Insider Tip: The royal barge is the specific reason to detour here rather than skip straight to Sing Buri’s better-known sites — it’s not something you’ll see at every riverside temple in the region.

Watch out: This is a working monastery, not a museum. Dress modestly (covered shoulders and knees) and remove shoes before entering any building, and keep visits low-key around active prayer times.

The temple is open daily, 08:00-16:30, with free admission. It’s reachable by car from Sing Buri town heading into Tha Chang district; there’s no direct public transport to the gate, so a taxi, rented motorbike, or your own car is the practical option. Pair it with Ban Rachan Retro Market or Inburi National Museum for a fuller day exploring Sing Buri’s own temples and history rather than treating the province as a drive-through en route to Ayutthaya.