Temple Road Trip: 4 Must-See Spots in Nakhon Nayok & 1 in Saraburi

In this article, I am sharing a day-long road trip I took starting from Ayutthaya, which covered several temples I had been wanting to check out. Two are highly famous, one is moderately known, and two are hidden gems I dug up myself that rarely get any coverage. At the end, I will let you know whether I recommend doing this road trip exactly as is, modifying it, or skipping it altogether. Spoiler alert: I absolutely loved the first two temples, especially the second one!

1st temple: Wat Lek Thammakit

When you first arrive at the temple and park your car, you might think it looks like a fairly ordinary temple… but as soon as you head to the back of the main buildings, you will understand exactly why you made the trip!

You will discover the ruins of an old assembly hall built more than two centuries ago. Having been abandoned over time, Bodhi trees grew over two of its doorways and the single facade that still stands. They say that walking under the arch of the largest Bodhi tree—nicknamed the “Gate of Time,” much like the one at the entrance of Wat Phra Ngam in Ayutthaya—brings good luck. Just in case, you should definitely do it… and if you win the lottery, we split the jackpot! 😉

Temple Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qiW3s3pKbbSgiyyC9

2nd temple: Wat Pa Krathum

Located just a 20-minute drive from Wat Lek Thammakit, this tiny, ruined temple—also two centuries old—was the absolute highlight of my road trip from Ayutthaya!

First of all, the setting is incredibly charming. Tucked away in the countryside, it is surrounded by fields and small marshlands filled with lotuses… where beautiful little yellow birds were nesting. You access the temple via a bamboo walkway that stretches across the rice paddies and lotuses, leading to a roofless brick hall whose walls seem to be held together entirely by the interwoven roots of a massive Bodhi tree. Inside, there are several Buddha statues where locals come to pray. Best of all, the temple is blissfully uncrowded…

Temple Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FCPnnpDdGxKeq7Sc8

3rd temple: Wat Maneewong

While the original temple dates back to 1903, the current version is much newer and has skyrocketed in popularity quite recently. The reason? Its massive artificial cave, Wang Rattana Mani Mahabaddhan Nakornacha, also known as the Naga Palace. Highly colorful and densely crowded with statues of Nagas (mythological serpents), it reportedly houses over 2,000 brass and copper figures surrounding various mythical characters and Buddhas, including a massive golden seated Buddha.

People clearly come here just for that! Outside, however, you will also find a pathway running underneath a succession of arches formed by Nagas, large seated Buddha statues, and perimeter walls covered in gold leaf decorations and sculptures.

This place isn’t just a temple; it features a massive market with highly diverse stalls, several coffee shops, and restaurants. In short, it feels like an entire small village, which can be a bit overwhelming. Today, it is probably the most famous and heavily visited temple in Nakhon Nayok province, but as you might have guessed, it wasn’t my personal favorite.

Temple Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gyDMxT2sBM4CnoDq8

Lunch Break

For the midday meal, I picked Krua Matcha, a restaurant about a ten-minute drive from Wat Maneewong. Set in a nice environment with a small pond right in the middle, it mostly offers a menu featuring fish and shrimp dishes, and even snails, alongside fermented pork ribs (a dish I personally love). I ate well, but it’s up to you whether you want to try this place or look elsewhere! 😉

4th temple: Phuttha Utthayan Makha Bucha Anusorn

This is not just a temple but also a “Buddha park”. Built in 2012 to celebrate the 2,600th anniversary of Buddha’s enlightenment, it reproduces the solemn scene of the Makha Bucha holiday, featuring a large, 13-meter-high golden statue of Buddha (in a preaching posture) surrounded by 1,250 disciple statues measuring 90 cm each, symbolizing the gathering of the 1,250 monks who came together without any prior summons. This is by far the most interesting aspect of the site!

I would have loved to fly my mini-drone because it feels less impressive from ground level, but having caught the rain, the drone refused to take off with a bloated battery—not a good sign…

The site also features a large statue of Ganesha nearby, as well as an assembly hall (closed) that appears to be dedicated to King Rama IX.

Temple Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/wwiqw5f8FosnViiG8

Last temple: Wat Pa Sawang Bun

For this one, we cross over into Saraburi province (about a 1-hour drive). Founded in 1985, this is a fairly vast complex highlighted by 3 main features:

• Phra Maha Rattana Loha Chedi Si Satsana Bodisat Sawangbun, commonly known as the “Chedi of 500 Peaks”: a golden structure with a central stupa surrounded by 500 minor golden stupas.
• An immense reclining Buddha that is reportedly 209 meters long and 32 meters high, making it the longest in the world! It’s a bit of a shame that the parking lot was placed so close to it. The statue was completed recently, though work on the surrounding grounds is still ongoing.
• A small artificial cave.

There is also a chedi sitting further up on a hill, but the view was blocked, so heading up there isn’t strictly necessary.

Temple Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qGw5S2sEfdctpYQC9

Conclusion

This road trip itinerary consisted entirely of temples, so it is obviously not something I would recommend replicating if you are already bored of temples. That said, it did feature highly distinct sites by showcasing various styles and approaches to temple building.

Looking back, now that I know all of them, I would probably reverse the visiting order to finish with the ancient ruined temples. Even if I wouldn’t necessarily advise doing this day trip exactly as laid out, those first two temples located 1.5 hours from Ayutthaya are absolutely worth the detour in my book!

In any case, if you need a driver in Ayutthaya for a day excursion or a transfer to Bangkok or one of the airports, I can highly recommend one.