This place is a surprise-filled temple compound with peaceful solitude and not packed with tourists. Once here you’ll realize that you’ve stumbled on something special.A contemplative space for monks and visitors alike combined with a nature-filled oasis.

Sitting on the quieter Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River, Wat Prayoon, is a crowd-free, surprise-filled temple compound with plenty of moments for peaceful solitude. Visitors can spend an afternoon here, exploring the inside of the towering white chedi stupa or feeding the hungry turtles in the Khao Mo garden.No guides and limited signage make finding the hidden gems within its walls a little tricky, but the friendly monks are happy to help direct you.

You can enter the chedi here, which is rare for a Bangkok temple, and it’s even more rare to have the place to yourself. But that’s not the true pleasure to be found at Wat Prayoon.

Wat Prayoon is a local, yet beloved temple with resident monks chanting in the ordination hall and families that come to pay their respects to Buddha before feeding the turtles.

Amongst the hustle and honking horns of the city, the Khao Mo garden area feels like a beacon of solitude. It’s a perfect place to spend an afternoon reading a book on one of its benches or watching the turtles and monitor lizards coexist in harmony.

Wat Prayoon

Construction of Wat Prayoon took place during the reign of King Rama III on what was an old coffee plantation.

The temple’s original name was Wat Rualek, a name inspired by the iron fence made of axes, swords, and lances that surrounded the temple. The fence came to Thailand as a gift from England.

Wat Prayoon features a large white bell-shaped Lanka style chedi, which contains relics of the Buddha. It’s actually the first temple of the Rattanakosin period to feature a Lanka style chedi. And there are 18 smaller chedis just like it spread around the base.

The chedi’s upper terrace can be accessed after passing through the temple’s museum.

Buddha Images Museum

The Buddha Images Museum features many images, amulets, and other artifacts discovered within the chedi during renovations done in 2006. In total, over 270 images and thousands of amulets were found, and many discoveries are displayed in the museum.

But beyond the museum and chedi, there are other places to explore.

Ordination Hall

The temple’s Ordination Hall houses the Phra Buddha Vishnu Prophet in a position of conquering evil. The image is made of metal and gilded with gold plate crafted by Japanese artisans, and the image was placed in the temple in 1828, the same year the temple was constructed.

The murals behind the Buddha image are scenes from the life of Buddha and the surrounding walls depict the Jataka.

Vihara

The Vihara houses another large Buddha image, Phra Phuttathama Wichettha Satsada, which was named by King Rama IX at a 1992 temple ceremony.

Khao Mo

Khao Mo is what makes Wat Prayoon truly distinct from other Bangkok temples.

The entrance to Khao Mo is next to the temple’s main entrance and within you’ll find a collection of shrines and a replica mountain.

In here you can relax within a hidden oasis. You’ll find a rock garden, pond, miniature chedis, pavilions, and more. There’s also a grotto and some rare plants to be found here.

Within the mountain there’s a reclining Buddha image and at the edge of the pond is a gothic style Mondop. The Mondop was built in 1885 during the reign of King Rama V. Luang Pho Kaek, one of Wat Prayoon’s most revered Buddha images is inside the Mondop.

But one of the more fun things to do, especially if with children, is to watch or even feed the turtles.

Khao Mo is peaceful and tranquil place with benches where you can rest while admiring the mountain, or feed the resident turtles and fish that live in the pond.

Bread, papaya, and other fruit can be bought for 20 baht a bag. Using a stick, you can then feed the bread and fruits to the turtles.

Wat Prayoon, and especially Khao Mo makes for an excellent spot for families with young kids and temple-lovers looking for something besides a giant gold Buddha, although there are plenty to be found here.

But, if you have mobility issues, it might best to give this temple a pass.

You can visit Wat Prayoon and Khao Mo by taking the Chao Phraya Express Boat to the Memorial Bridge Pier. Then walk or take a taxi across the bridge. The temple is just on the right after crossing the bridge, with its easily identifiable white chedi.