Wat Rai Khing

Wat Rai Khing, officially Wat Mongkol Chinda Ram Rai Khing, is a prominent Buddhist temple on the Tha Chin River in Rai Khing Subdistrict, Sam Phran District, Nakhon Pathom Province, about 32 km west of Bangkok. Founded in 1791, it enshrines the highly revered Chiang Saen-style Buddha image Luang Pho Wat Rai Khing. Known for its traditional Thai architecture, riverside setting, fish-feeding pier and temple market, it is a major center of worship and cultural activity.

Visitors can expect a large active riverside temple complex with an ornate ubosot housing the principal Luang Pho Wat Rai Khing Buddha image, surrounding viharns, gilded decorations and murals. The grounds extend to the Tha Chin River with a pier where visitors feed fish, open courtyards, shrines, and a weekend market and food stalls selling local products. The atmosphere is that of a working place of worship with areas for prayer, merit-making and sightseeing.

Founded in 1791 (B.E. 2334) during the early Rattanakosin period by Somdet Phra Phutthachan (Puk), originally named Wat Mongkol Chinda Ram. The temple was built to enshrine the Buddha image Luang Pho Wat Rai Khing, a Chiang Saen-style image believed to have been found floating on the Tha Chin River. Later granted royal temple status as Phra Aram Luang.

A highly revered Buddhist temple for residents of Nakhon Pathom and the central region, centered on devotion to Luang Pho Wat Rai Khing. It serves as a center for religious ceremonies, merit-making, and community gatherings, and hosts a well-known annual temple fair. The riverside setting and fish-feeding tradition reflect local Buddhist practices of making merit.