Buddhist temple · Damnoen Saduak District

Wat Chotithaikaram

Damnoen Saduak District, TH 4.3 (147 Google reviews)

AT A GLANCE

Why go?

Wat Chotithaikaram sits right on the bank of the Khlong Damnoen Saduak canal, a few minutes from the district's famous floating market, yet it trades the market's bustle for a quieter, deeply historical kind of charm. Founded in 1874 on land donated by a generous local, the temple has grown into one of Ratchaburi's most storied riverside monasteries—a working Buddhist community and a place where royal history, rare Buddha images and canal culture all meet.↗↗

What sets this wat apart is a double brush with the Thai monarchy: King Rama V once moored his royal boat here during a private excursion, and nearly seven decades later King Rama IX and Queen Sirikit came to present royal Kathina robes. Add a centuries-old laterite Buddha recovered from an abandoned temple in Lopburi, a tiger-guarded gate facing the water, and a pyramidal mondop fronted by two old Chinese junk boats, and Wat Chotithaikaram becomes a genuinely rewarding stop for travelers who want more than a quick market photo.↗↗

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Buddhist temple · Damnoen Saduak District

Wat Chotithaikaram

Damnoen Saduak District, TH 4.3 (147 Google reviews)

Photo: Google Maps

AT A GLANCE

Why go?

Wat Chotithaikaram sits right on the bank of the Khlong Damnoen Saduak canal, a few minutes from the district's famous floating market, yet it trades the market's bustle for a quieter, deeply historical kind of charm. Founded in 1874 on land donated by a generous local, the temple has grown into one of Ratchaburi's most storied riverside monasteries—a working Buddhist community and a place where royal history, rare Buddha images and canal culture all meet.↗↗

What sets this wat apart is a double brush with the Thai monarchy: King Rama V once moored his royal boat here during a private excursion, and nearly seven decades later King Rama IX and Queen Sirikit came to present royal Kathina robes. Add a centuries-old laterite Buddha recovered from an abandoned temple in Lopburi, a tiger-guarded gate facing the water, and a pyramidal mondop fronted by two old Chinese junk boats, and Wat Chotithaikaram becomes a genuinely rewarding stop for travelers who want more than a quick market photo.↗↗

A temple written into royal history

The temple's story begins with faith rather than stone. In 1874 a kindly local landowner, known as Pu Mang of the Manmi family, gave up part of his own property to found a monastery, pooling a small donation from villagers to raise the first kuti and inviting Phra Chuang from a neighbouring temple to be its founding abbot. From those modest roots a community temple grew that would one day draw the attention of kings.↗↗

On 16 July 1901, King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) was traveling by boat on one of his informal private excursions when his royal vessel tied up at the temple front, beside the sermon hall. The abbot Phra Chuang led five monks down to chant blessings in welcome, and the king was so pleased that he donated funds for the temple's upkeep and later granted Phra Chuang an ecclesiastical title. A royal pavilion on the grounds recalls the canal-side setting of the monarchy's ties to this place.↗↗

The royal connection was renewed on 4 November 1967, when King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) and Queen Sirikit traveled to Wat Chotithaikaram to offer royal Kathina robes at the close of the Buddhist rains retreat, responding to an invitation from the people of Damnoen Saduak. After the ceremony they rested and took a meal at the pavilion facing the temple, watching boat races and local performances presented on the water—an occasion the townspeople remember with pride to this day.↗↗

Sacred images and structures worth lingering over

Inside the ubosot (ordination hall) sits the temple's most revered treasure, Luang Pho Lop Buri Ramesuan, a seated Buddha in the Subduing Mara posture carved from laterite stone in the transitional Sukhothai–Lopburi style and said to be more than five hundred years old. According to temple tradition, the image was discovered at a ruined temple in Lopburi by a former abbot searching for a principal Buddha; its head had been lost until it was found wrapped in a tree's roots, and when the two pieces were rejoined they fit perfectly, and the image was carried here with ceremony.↗↗

Facing the canal at the front of the temple grounds is the Pratu Laplae, a sacred gate as old as the monastery itself, guarded by a tiger figure that alludes to the zodiac year of the founding abbot. Long restored by later abbots and known affectionately as the “Tiger Gate,” it remains a focal point of local devotion, where people light incense and pay their respects before important occasions.↗↗

Another standout is the mondop, a pagoda-like hall with a graceful four-faced pyramidal roof, built during the founding abbot's era and later refurbished with a surrounding cloister. Within it are important Buddha images and a replica of the Buddha's footprint, opened to the public for worship and the gilding of images once a year during the temple's annual festival. Right in front stand two old Chinese junk boats, their bows turned toward each other—relics of the days when the canal carried trade, restored to good condition for visitors to admire.↗↗

The temple also maintains a museum, the Sunthon Thammarat building, begun in the 1990s to house ancient artifacts and objects preserved through the temple's history, offering a window into the religious and local culture of the Damnoen Saduak area.↗↗

Life on the Damnoen Saduak canal

Part of the appeal here is the location. The temple occupies the right bank of the Khlong Damnoen Saduak, the long straight canal that gives the district its name and feeds its famous floating-market culture, and it sits beside the district administration center. The wat serves as a local hub of arts and culture, and its community-run tourism group offers electric-boat excursions that let visitors see the canal from the water in a quieter, low-emission way, alongside home-cooked food and refreshments for visitors and study groups.↗↗↗

Local and provincial authorities have recognized the temple's layered history and are working to improve its grounds, paths and landing stages so it can be promoted as a heritage-and-culture destination in its own right, rather than only as a neighbour to the floating market. For travelers, that means a sense of a living place being carefully tended, where the royal past, the devotional present and the rhythm of canal life sit comfortably together.↗

Planning your visit

As an active Buddhist temple, the grounds are open around the clock, making it easy to combine with a morning at the Damnoen Saduak floating market. From the district market, take the road toward Bang Nok Khwaek past the administration center; the temple is only a short distance beyond. It is a good choice for visitors who want a calmer, more reflective counterpoint to the bustling canal trade.↗↗

Because it is a functioning monastery with a resident sangha, dress modestly as you would at any Thai temple, covering shoulders and knees, and be mindful inside the halls, where worshippers may be praying. If you specifically want to see the museum's collections, arrange the visit with the temple in advance, as access can be by appointment. The community boat-tour operation generally runs during daytime hours, so an early start lets you take in both the temple and the canal before the market crowds.↗↗

What makes it special

01

A canal-side temple on the Khlong Damnoen Saduak, steps from the famous floating market↗↗

02

Tied to two Thai kings: Rama V's royal boat landed here in 1901; Rama IX and Queen Sirikit offered Kathina robes in 1967↗↗

03

Home to Luang Pho Lop Buri Ramesuan, a centuries-old laterite Buddha recovered from a ruined temple in Lopburi↗↗

04

A tiger-guarded sacred gate, a four-faced mondop and two restored Chinese junk boats by the water↗↗

05

Community-run electric-boat tours let you see Damnoen Saduak from the canal↗

A little planning goes a long way

Combine the temple with the Damnoen Saduak floating market—the wat offers a quieter, historical complement to the market's energy.↗
From the district market, head along the road toward Bang Nok Khwaek past the administration center; the temple lies just beyond.↗
For the museum collections, contact the temple ahead of time, as viewing is usually by arrangement.↗
The community tourism group's electric-boat tours typically run during the day (roughly 08:00–17:00), so go early to fit in both boat and temple.↗

About this guide

Compiled with AI assistance from the sources below; this is not a first-hand visit. Place details collected October 5, 2026. Hours, access and ratings can change; confirm with the venue before visiting.

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GX93+3GQ, Damnoen Saduak, Damnoen Saduak District, Ratchaburi 70130, Thailand

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Opening hours +

As reported by Google Maps. Confirm holiday hours before you go.

Friday: Open 24 hours
Monday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours

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Wat Chotithaikaram

Why go?

More of Thailand: Bangkok

Finding your next place…

Wat Chotithaikaram

Why go?

More of Thailand: Bangkok

A temple written into royal history

Sacred images and structures worth lingering over

Life on the Damnoen Saduak canal

Planning your visit

What makes it special

A little planning goes a long way

About this guide