Wat Prang Luang

Wat Prang Luang, on the bank of Khlong Om Non (also called Khlong Bangkok Noi) in Bang Yai district, is reckoned to be the oldest temple site in Nonthaburi and the wider Bangkok metropolitan area. Local history dates its founding to around 1361, during the reign of King Ramathibodi I (U-Thong), the first monarch of Ayutthaya — this stretch of riverbank is thought to have served as his residence before Ayutthaya itself was established. Entry is free, daily 07:00-18:30.

The temple’s namesake is its red-brick prang, a Khmer-style tower built alongside the original temple and now reckoned the oldest and best-preserved example in the Bangkok area, standing around seven storeys tall and dating to the early Ayutthaya period. The temple was originally called Wat Luang; Vajirananavarorasa, the tenth Supreme Patriarch of the Rattanakosin era, renamed it Wat Prang Luang once the tower’s age and significance were recognised. The main Buddha image inside the ordination hall, known locally as Luang Phor U-Thong, is a gilded stucco figure in the Maravijaya (subduing Mara) pose with a lap width of around 9 metres.

Set back from the canal behind mature trees, the compound is genuinely quiet outside festival days. This is a working neighbourhood temple, not a coach-tour stop, and most of the people you’ll see are local devotees making merit rather than other visitors.

Insider Tip: Ask at the temple office before approaching the prang closely. The brickwork is thin in places, and access to the upper tiers isn’t generally permitted, for good reason given its age.

The temple sits off the main roads in Bang Yai, best reached by car, motorbike or taxi from central Nonthaburi or western Bangkok — public transport options are limited this far from the BTS/MRT network. Dress modestly, covered shoulders and knees, and remove shoes before entering the ordination hall. Pair the visit with Ko Kret’s pottery workshops or Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat Worawiharn for a fuller day of Nonthaburi temples away from Bangkok’s crowds.