Wat Phleng

Wat Phleng’s ordination hall is painted pink, a tribute to King Rama V, whose personal colour — tied to being born on a Tuesday — was pink. Locals in Nonthaburi call the temple Bot Si Chomphu, the Pink Ordination Hall, and it’s the reason to make the detour down Sai Ma Soi 11 to find it.

The temple dates to the Ayutthaya period but sat abandoned for roughly 200 years before a monk named Luang Pu Kruba Sri Nuan travelled from Chiang Mai in 1986, restored the grounds, and built a new ubosot. Wat Phleng was formally re-established on 29 September 1987, and received its sema (ordination-ground) certification in October 2000. A later abbot, Phra Khru Sangkharak Prasit, has continued restoration work since.

Inside the pink hall stands Luang Pho To, a standing Buddha image carved from red sandstone in the U Thong style and finished in gilded lacquer — the temple’s principal image. A bronze statue of Rama V sits nearby, honouring the king the ordination hall was painted for. Outside, a Ganesha shrine under a fig tree draws visitors leaving offerings for prosperity, a common stop for locals passing through Sai Ma before continuing their day.

This isn’t a tour-bus temple. It sits down a residential soi off the main Sai Ma road, with little signage pointing the way, so most visitors are locals or people who’ve specifically sought it out for the pink hall’s photos. The Sai Ma peninsula, a loop of the Chao Phraya just north of central Nonthaburi, holds several smaller neighbourhood temples — Wat Sai Ma Nuea is a short distance away — if the pink hall alone doesn’t fill your visit.

Insider Tip: Late afternoon light works best for photographing the pink facade — the low sun brings out the colour without the harsh midday glare washing it flat.

Watch out: There’s no clear street-level signage for the soi turn-off. Navigate by GPS pin rather than looking for temple signs from the main Sai Ma road.

Dress modestly — covered shoulders and knees — and remove shoes before entering the ordination hall. The temple is free, though a small donation toward its ongoing restoration is appreciated.