Wat Rat Prakhong Tham

Wat Rat Prakhong Tham’s main draw is Luang Pho Phra Non, a reclining Buddha roughly 32 metres long — widely cited as the largest in Nonthaburi province. The temple traces back to around 1713, late in the Ayutthaya period, and was known locally for years as Wat Khang Khao (“Bat Temple”) before restoration turned it into one of Bang Yai’s principal community temples. Entry is free and the grounds are open to visitors daily.

The pavilion sheltering the reclining Buddha is the temple’s most distinctive feature: its roofline carries scaled-down replicas of three of Thailand’s most venerated stupas side by side — Phra That Hariphunchai from Lamphun, Phra That Phanom from Nakhon Phanom, and Phra Pathom Chedi from Nakhon Pathom — built as a single tribute rather than housing relics from those originals. The temple also enshrines Luang Pho To and a Sam Po Kong image, both popular with local devotees for merit-making visits. Wide grounds, generous parking, and clean facilities make this an easy stop rather than a squeeze-in.

Insider Tip: Water buffaloes graze along the Khlong Om riverbank at the edge of the temple grounds, and visitors are welcome to feed them — a detail that surprises most first-time visitors and makes this a better stop for families than Nonthaburi’s more austere temples. A small coffee shop on site covers the practical side of a longer visit.

Shade from mature trees keeps the grounds comfortable outside the midday heat; mornings and late afternoons are the most pleasant times to walk the complex. The temple sits on Rim Khlong Om Road in Bang Yai, west of central Nonthaburi and roughly 40 minutes from Bangkok by car depending on traffic — there’s no rail station at the door, so a car or taxi is the practical option. Wat Sao Thong Hin, in the same subdistrict, makes an easy second stop if you’re touring Bang Yai’s temples in one trip. Cover shoulders and knees, and remove shoes before entering the pavilion housing the reclining Buddha.