Wat Tha Ka Rong

📍 Location of Wat Tha Ka Rong 🚘 Directions to Wat Tha Ka Rong

About Wat Tha Ka Rong

Wat Tha Karong Floating Market is a vibrant and bustling hub of activity, offering a plethora of cheap and appetizing food options. The market is particularly known for its Kala Noodles and a variety of traditional desserts. In addition to the food, the market also boasts a wide array of basketry items, making it a great place for those interested in local crafts.

The Wat Tha Karong itself is a modern and blossoming temple, standing out amidst the historical and ancient Wats and Prangs of Ayuthyya. Despite its modernity, the temple does not pressure visitors for donations, allowing them to enjoy the serene environment without any interruptions. The temple is a unique blend of the devout and the modern, with religious and pious items coexisting with modern and automated figures of Superman and Batman.

One of the unique features of the temple is a dedicated space for Lord Ganesha, known as the Elephant God in Thai. The temple houses a variety of Ganesha images, unmatched even by temples in India. The temple is a riot of colors, with bright and colorful statues of Lord Buddha and revered monks, golden Buddhas, chandeliers, flowers, and golden lamps. The temple also features a variety of environmental displays to engage children, including figures of chickens and garlanded crows.

The Wat Tha Karong is a must-visit during weekends, offering an ethnological experience that borders on surrealism. The temple is easily accessible by bike, making it a convenient stop before heading to Wat Chai Wattanaram for the sunset. The temple is a paradise for photographers, with its colorful religious artifacts and bustling crowd. The temple complex is large, with many different areas to explore.

During weekends, the temple also hosts a food floating market. After passing the sellers of religious souvenirs, visitors reach a floating platform where many kitchen boats are attached, each offering a couple of dishes. The platform has tables and chairs, and places selling cold water, allowing visitors to enjoy their food in a relaxed setting. The food is delicious and affordable, with prices starting at 20B per dish. The platform also features a larger boat offering foot massages and full body massages at very reasonable prices.

The temple is decorated with many ways to donate, adding to its unique charm. It is located in a covered market-like area selling various religious items and food. The temple itself is in the middle of the area, making it an interesting find for visitors.

The temple complex is unusual, featuring many modern statues and art works with places to donate money. It is like a modern art museum, with a surreal mixture of pop culture, commerce, and Buddhism. There is a traditional temple deep in the complex with an old Buddha statue, making it worth a visit just to gawk. However, those who are easily offended by the commercialization of religion may want to give it a miss.

Despite its unusual nature, the Wat Tha Karong stands out among the hundreds of Buddhist temples. It seems to be a mix of a fun park and a ghost ride, leaving visitors with many questions about Buddhism. The temple also features special toilets, adding to its unique charm. It is recommended to take a local guide to explain the various aspects of the temple.