Wat Suthiwat Wararam (Wat Chong Lom)

Wat Suthiwat Wararam — known to locals as Wat Chong Lom, “temple of the wind passage” — is a royal temple on the western bank of the Tha Chin River in Samut Sakhon. Founded around 1807, during the reign of King Rama III, it was originally named Wat Thai Baan; King Rama IX granted it royal temple status on 26 May 1965 and formally renamed it Wat Suthiwat Wararam in 1976, meaning “temple of pure wind.” Admission is free, and the temple is open daily 08:00–16:30.

Experience

The nickname Wat Chong Lom comes from the strong wind that funnels through the bay mouth where the temple sits — noticeable even now on the open riverside terrace outside the ordination hall. Inside, the hall enshrines Luang Pho Hin Daeng, a red sandstone Buddha image believed to date from the early Ayutthaya period and still venerated by local devotees. At the temple entrance stands a statue of King Rama V, commemorating his visit to nearby Tha Chalom — the first locality in Thailand to be designated a sanitary district (sukhaphiban), a milestone in Thai local government.

One of the most photographed features is the Jao Mae Kuan Im Shrine: a nine-metre fountain in the form of the Mahayana Goddess of Mercy, popular with Chinese-Thai worshippers from across the region. A secondary hall beside the ubosot holds the revered statue of LP Kaeo, a former abbot whose memory draws devotees seeking merit. Hundreds of edible-nest swiftlets have colonised this hall’s roof timbers, and the harvested nests — a genuine, if unusual, income source for coastal Thai temples — contribute to the temple’s upkeep.

Atmosphere & Timing

The riverside terrace and the Kuan Im fountain draw a steady trickle of visitors through the day rather than a single rush; early morning or late afternoon give the most comfortable light for photos and the coolest air off the water.

Insider Tip: Time a visit for late afternoon, when the wind off the Tha Chin picks up and the terrace by the Kuan Im shrine is at its most pleasant — the temple’s whole nickname makes more sense standing there at 4 or 5 PM than at midday.

Watch out: The swiftlet-nest hall is a working part of the temple’s income, not a display — keep noise down near it and don’t expect access beyond the exterior.

Practical

Dress modestly with covered shoulders and knees, and remove shoes before entering any building. Wat Yai Chom Prasat, another notable Samut Sakhon temple, sits within easy reach for a two-temple morning.