Wat Sam Phran: Nakhon Pathom's Spectacular Dragon Temple

Here's another place we don't want you to miss: Wat Sam Phran in Nakhon Pathom. It's spectacular and something you have to see with your own eyes, well worth the trip. It's easy to get to, not far from Bangkok, and so impressive you'll definitely want to come back.

Another beautiful temple in Nakhon Pathom, striking, unique and eye-catching, that hardly anyone hasn't heard of: Wat Sam Phran. Wat Sam Phran (Phuttho Phawana) is one of the most famous temples in Nakhon Pathom. It stands out for its teachings, architecture and sculptures, created so that people can reflect on Buddhist principles through what the temple has built.

If you drive here, you'll spot it from far away, thanks to the dragon climbing to the sky on a pink, cylindrical building that rises about 80 meters. This is the monks' residence, a special piece of architecture and the temple's real highlight. On the outside, a huge green dragon coils around the building from the bottom to the top. You can walk up inside the dragon's body, like walking through a cave, with ventilation fans inside, all the way to the rooftop. But the dragon walkway is only open on Buddhist holy days, Sundays and public holidays. Be prepared, and it's a good idea to bring drinking water, as it's quite a long walk. If you get tired, take a break along the way.

The temple's striking beauty recently caught the attention of the international news agency AFP, which photographed Wat Sam Phran, also called the Dragon Temple, from high, wide and close-up angles and shared the images with people around the world. The round pink building is about 80 meters tall with 16 floors. The green-scaled dragon wrapped around it from the very bottom to the top contains a walkway tunnel about 350 meters long, leading up to a 360-degree viewpoint at the dragon's head.

Wat Sam Phran also has many other highlights that many people already know. The ordination hall houses as many as 1,250 small Buddha images. There's also the large, gleaming golden outdoor Buddha statue, Luang Pho Phuttho Phawana, and sacred objects around the grounds where you can pay respects and make wishes according to your faith, such as Guan Yin, a giant turtle and naga serpents. Let's see which spots at Wat Sam Phran you shouldn't miss.

• The white elephant sculpture is the temple's signature sculpture. It may not look like an especially beautiful elephant, but it comes with a legend: it is said to be a white elephant connected with the abbot during his forest pilgrimage.
• The giant turtle: you can walk in through the turtle's mouth, which opens and closes with a hydraulic system. It's recommended that you make a wish and purify your mind with the precepts before going in.
• The naga treasure jar fountain: people believe that tossing a coin in brings wealth and plenty for generations to come.
• Nine-colored crystals, nine-rayed gems, turning bad into good: sculptures of green and gold nagas holding up crystal orbs in 9 colors, lined up neatly in front of the Cave of the Death Messenger. Visitors touch them while reflecting on the goodness and purity of their elders and relatives, since these are seen as wish-granting gems that are always with us: parents, children, spouses and monks. This Dhamma puzzle comes from the teaching of the Six Directions, which teaches us to care for and support one another and fulfill our duties to each other.
• Luang Pho Phuttho Phawana is a golden outdoor Buddha image in the blessing posture, seated on a pink lotus on top of the 4th floor of the vegetarian hall. The entire statue is made of brass.
• Wax figures of revered monks are enshrined together so you can pay respects in one place.
• The statue of King Rama V is a standing monument, another figure deeply revered by Thai people.
• Guan Yin, the bodhisattva of Chinese belief, is also enshrined here.
• The twin naga bridge is another of the temple's naga-related sculptures.
• The 108-curve Merit Path is a walkway in a grid of 8 squares, each marked with footprints. It carries a Buddhist meaning: the Noble Eightfold Path, the Middle Way and the heart of Buddhism. The message is that if we follow this path, our lives will have principles that lead to prosperity.

Beyond these sculptures, each with its own history, beliefs, legends and Dhamma puzzles, the temple grounds are shady, beautiful and calming. It's also a meditation temple, and devout Buddhists regularly come dressed in white to practice here. After hearing all this, you probably want to go already, right? You really should see it with your own eyes at least once. It's beautiful, impressive and well worth the trip, and once you see the beautiful view from the top of the dragon, you'll forget how tired you are.

Wat Sam Phran

• Address: 92 Sam Phran Subdistrict, Sam Phran District, Nakhon Pathom 73110
• Map: https://goo.gl/maps/dgGX7utHHKs3zke28
• Hours: Open daily 9:00-17:30

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Author Meeting Point Management Team, MBA มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์ MBA University of Technology Sydney (UTS) DBA มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์ Editorial Team

The Meeting Point management team loves eating, travelling, temple visits and lifestyle. We pick the restaurants, cafes, stays, attractions and temples we have visited ourselves and write about them honestly.