Wat Nangsao

Wat Nang Sao in Tha Mai subdistrict, Krathum Baen, is one of Samut Sakhon’s oldest temples — its name carries an Ayutthaya-era founding legend that sets it apart from most community wats in the province.

During a period of Burmese conflict, a group of Thai villagers fled along the Tha Chin River. Two sisters among them took shelter in a derelict ordination hall, vowing that if they survived they would restore it. The elder sister later judged the structure beyond repair and founded a separate temple nearby; the younger kept her promise, renovating the old hall and establishing the temple under the name Wat Phrommachari. Locals began calling it Wat Nong Sao — younger sister’s temple — which over generations shifted to Wat Nang Sao.

The centrepiece is the Maha Udom ubosot, a brick ordination hall estimated at over 400 years old. Its most unusual feature is a single entrance with no windows; light enters through gaps in the terracotta-tiled roof and reflects off the water table below. The roof beams are whole timber logs, and twin sandstone boundary markers stand around the exterior. The hall was extensively restored in 1985.

The main venerated image is Luang Pho Dam, a dark-complexioned Buddha over a century old, enshrined in a dedicated vihara alongside the Luang Pho Pa Lailai image. The temple opens daily 07:30–17:00 and entry is free. Dress respectfully — covered shoulders and long trousers — and remove shoes before entering any building.