Wat Rakhang Khositaram

Wat Rakhang Khositaram tickets and tours: which one to book

There is no ticket to buy for Wat Rakhang, and nothing for it alone is sold online. Entry to the grounds and the main halls is free, and the only costs are optional: a small donation to strike the bells, fish food at the pier, or flowers, candles and gold leaf for an offering. The old wooden scripture library has limited and irregular opening hours, so do not expect to see inside it on every visit. The temple stands on the Thonburi bank of the Chao Phraya, almost directly opposite the Grand Palace, and the classic way to arrive is by the cross-river ferry from Tha Chang pier, a crossing of a few minutes that costs a handful of baht.

The Chao Phraya Express boat also stops at Wang Lang, a short walk north, from where you can explore the market lanes on the way. Some walking tours of Thonburi and longtail boat trips through the canals stop here, typically with a guide, a boat and a few snacks or tastings included; in addition, the temple is one of the nine on a popular Thai pilgrimage circuit, and local operators offer day trips that cover all nine for good luck. The page lists any GetYourGuide tours whose route passes the temple. Independent visitors manage easily, though a guide helps to explain the murals and the stories of the famous abbot.

Visiting Wat Rakhang Khositaram: what to see and how to behave

The temple dates from the Ayutthaya period, when it was called Wat Bang Wa Yai. King Taksin of Thonburi restored it and made it a royal monastery, and under King Rama I a bell with an unusually sweet tone was found in the grounds. The king moved it to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and sent five new bells in its place, and the temple took the name of the bell, rakhang in Thai. Bells remain its theme today: visitors strike the rows hanging near the main hall, and the clear notes are said to bring good fortune and a good reputation. Beyond the bells, look for three things. The ordination hall, built in the early Bangkok style, houses a revered Buddha image and murals.

Behind it stands a refined teak building, the scripture library, which is said to have been a residence of Rama I before he became king and was moved here and rebuilt; its interior paintings of Buddhist and Ramakien scenes are counted among the finest of the early Rattanakosin period. Finally, statues and shrines honour Somdet To, the much-loved abbot who led the temple from 1852 to 1872 and whose amulets are among the most prized in Thailand; you will see local people queuing to pay respects to him. At the pier, the river is thick with catfish that devotees feed as an act of merit. This is an active and busy place of worship, especially on holy days, so dress modestly, move quietly around the shrines and do not photograph people at prayer without asking.

Wat Rakhang Khositaram: opening hours, ceremonies and the best time to go

The grounds open early in the morning and close in the early evening; check the official site for current hours of the scripture library, which opens far less often. Early morning is the best time: monks return from their alms round, the ferry is quiet and the river light is soft.

Weekends and Buddhist holy days bring large numbers of Thai worshippers to the shrines of Somdet To, which is interesting to see but crowded, while weekday afternoons are calmer. November to February offers the coolest and driest weather in Bangkok, while the rainy season from June to October brings sudden storms that can halt the ferries for a while. New Year and Songkran are peak times for temple-hopping on the nine-temple circuit. Allow about 45 minutes. Combine the visit with the Grand Palace or Wat Pho on the other bank, with Wang Lang market to the north, or with a walk south along the river to Wat Arun.