Wat Samphran: The Dragon Temple in Thailand

With over 40,000 temples in the country, there are some temples worth taking a trip to for the views.

You have probably heard of the dragon temple in Bangkok Thailand. Although it is not in Bangkok, it is located close by to the west in Sam Phran District in Nakhon Pathom Province.

The Wat Samphran temple is a 17-story high Buddhist temple wrapped with a pink dragon around it.

It is 80 meters (262 feet) high because Buddha died at the age of 80.

The Chinese-Thai-designed temple was registered in 1985. Although dragons are a huge part of both cultures, this dragon temple was made with the Chinese design in mind.

If you’re thinking of traveling to some of Thailand’s temples, you’ll want to bring clothes that cover your knees and shoulder. Some are in ruins, such as Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, while others are still thriving.

Head to Chiang Mai to check out Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and Phuket to see the Big Buddha statue.

In each city, you will see tourists flocking to the temples that they’ve read about on the internet. And while this temple is yet another one of those gems, you’ll be glad you got the chance to walk up the 80 meters.

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What You Will Need

• Coins
• Sunblock
• Walking shoes

Thailand’s climate will have you sweating off the sunblock the moment you put it on (for me anyway). That is why having waterproof sunblock is always important for me.

Since you will be doing some walking during your trip to Thailand, I recommend investing in some comfortable and decent walking shoes.

Other Tips

• Don’t forget to wear modest clothes that cover your shoulders and knees. Don’t be like me and forget. If not, you can borrow a sarong while you are at the temple for THB 20 (USD .50).
  • There is another temple nearby where you will need to be covered and they do not have the option to borrow a sarong.

• Even though you are not required to pay an entrance fee, it is always kind to donate a few Baht to the temples.

• You will have to take off your shoes. If you don’t mind tying and untying your sneakers, then I’d recommend wearing some comfy sneakers for your trip to the Samphran Dragon Temple.

In Thailand, I always recommend bringing toilet paper or tissues with you because some places do not have tissues in the stall or bathroom or others might charge you for tissues.

How to Get to The Dragon Temple in Thailand

From Bangkok

The road distance between Bangkok and Wat Samphran is 39.1 kilometers (24.3 miles).

To see this dragon temple Thailand offers a few different transportation methods that come in handy. If you prefer driving, there will be a parking lot near the entrance of the temple.

Of course, taking a taxi or a Grab to places around Bangkok is always an option. It will cost around USD 20 and should take about a half hour.

However, if you are looking to get there the most affordable way, you can always hop on the bus. You can take a bus for as little as USD 4-8. The only downside is that it will take almost two hours to get to the temple from Bangkok.

Keep in mind that traffic in Bangkok is horrendous. You might have to plan your trips accordingly and even around the traffic so always keep that in the back of your head, especially if you are flying!

From Mahachai

If you decide to drive, it will take about a half-hour to get to the temple from Mahachai. You can take a taxi or Grab for as little as USD 15 going one way.

And again, there will be a parking lot if you have your own vehicle.

What You Will See

As you make your way to the temple, you will walk by (or under) an elephant. You can also see some peacock and tiger statues, along with handprints and footprints impressed in the cement.

The dragon temple is famous on the internet but when you see it up close, you will see very few tourists.

You can easily spend an hour walking in and around the temple since there are gardens and other attractions. Take a stroll along the base of the temple and look at the shrines.

Once you are ready to walk up to the top, head inside and take off your shoes. You will see stairs and an elevator. Don’t get your hopes up because the elevator might not be functioning.

The stairs will lead you to the tunnel. Inside the tunnel is narrow and hot. You will come across a fan as you make your way up the spiral so if you need to take a break or cool down, feel free to do so.

The first staircase after the tunnel led to the windows with a beautiful view. Take a look our the windows to capture the views of the province. There will be another staircase that takes you to the top of the temple. Be careful because the stairs are quite steep.

If you are looking for eternal happiness, a new job, or wealth for your family, grab some change and toss it in the designated buckets at the temple.

At the very top of the temple, there are two bowls that you can throw coins in. One of the bowls is for good luck and the other is for happiness.

You will see a bucket of little red strips of paper-like material where you can write your name or whatever you want on it and then tie it to the railing.

There is also a shrine and you can purchase/donate flowers for the shrine.

After the Dragon Temple

After going to Wat Samphran, grab some dinner at a nearby restaurant or you can always grab some Thai food if you’re heading back to Bangkok.

Riva Floating Cafe is only about a ten-minute ride from Wat Samphran. They have indoor and outdoor seating. If you sit outside, you can sit right on top of the water which is very relaxing.

Finding crab rangoons outside of the US has always been difficult for me. When I see them on menus, I always try to go to that restaurant.

They have assorted desserts at the cafe that are delectable and satisfying.