250px, Luang Por Wat Rai Khing Wat Rai Khing ( th, วัดไร่ขิง, ; ) is another prominent and notable

temple A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...

in Nakhon Pathom province in addition to Wat Phra Pathom Chedi, which is the provincial temple. Wat Rai Khing is located along the Tha Chin River (known locally as Nakhon Chai Si River),

Tambon ''Tambon'' ( th, ตำบล, ) is a local governmental unit in Thailand. Below district ('' amphoe'') and province ('' changwat''), they form the third administrative subdivision level. there were 7,255 tambons, not including the 180 '' khwaen ...

Rai Khing,

Sam Phran district Sam Phran ( th, สามพราน, ) is the southernmost district ('' amphoe'') of Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand. History The district was established in 1896, then named Talat Mai District. It was renamed Sam Phran in 1917. The name '' ...

Petchkasem Road Phet Kasem Road (, , )ราชบัณฑิตยสถาน. ''อ่านอย่างไร และ เขียนอย่างไร ฉบับราชบัณฑิตยสถาน.'' พิมพ์ครั้งที่ ...

, west of Bangkok. And not far from other attractions such as Sampran Riverside (Rose Garden), Samphran Elephant Ground & Zoo etc. It is a civilian monastery built in 1791 (reign of King

Rama IV Mongkut ( th, มงกุฏ; 18 October 18041 October 1868) was the fourth monarch of Siam (Thailand) under the House of Chakri, titled Rama IV. He ruled from 1851 to 1868. His full title in Thai was ''Phra Bat Somdet Phra Menthora Ramathibo ...

). Somdej Phra Phuttha Chan (Pook), who was a Sam Phran people named this temple after the ''

tambon ''Tambon'' ( th, ตำบล, ) is a local governmental unit in Thailand. Below district ('' amphoe'') and province ('' changwat''), they form the third administrative subdivision level. there were 7,255 tambons, not including the 180 '' khwaen ...

'' (subdistrict). When construction was completed, the

Buddha image Buddhist art is visual art produced in the context of Buddhism. It includes depictions of Gautama Buddha and other Buddhas and bodhisattvas, notable Buddhist figures both historical and mythical, narrative scenes from their lives, mandalas, and ...

was brought from Wat Sala Poon and enshrined here, later the locals named the image Luang Por Wat Rai Khing (หลวงพ่อวัดไร่ขิง). The Buddha image is in the attitude of Buddha Subduing Mara. The Buddha image is of

Chiang Saen Chiang Saen may refer to: * Chiang Saen District, in Chiang Rai Province, northern Thailand * Chiang Saen, a capital of the ancient Lanna The Lan Na Kingdom ( nod, , , "Kingdom of a Million Rice Fields"; th, อาณาจักรล้� ...

style and is assumed to have been built by Lanna Thai and

Lan Xang existed as a unified kingdom from 1353 to 1707. For three and a half centuries, Lan Xang was one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia. The meaning of the kingdom's name alludes to the power of the kingship and formidable war machine of the ea ...

craftsmen. According to legend, this Buddha image was found floating in the river, along with four other Buddha images, namely Luang Por Sothon (หลวงพ่อโสธร) of

Wat Sothonwararam Wat Sothonwararam is a temple in Chachoengsao Province, Thailand. Located in the Municipality of Mueang Chachoengsao alongside the Bang Pakong River, it was initially named ‘Wat Hong,’ and was built in the late Ayutthaya Ayutthaya, Ayudhya, or ...

Chachoengsao Chachoengsao ( th, ฉะเชิงเทรา, ) is a town (''thesaban mueang'') in central Thailand, capital of Chachoengsao Province. It is on the banks of the Bang Pakong River. It includes ''tambon'' Na Mueang and parts of Ban Mai, Bang Ti ...

, Luang Por Ban Laem (หลวงพ่อบ้านแหลม) of Wat Ban Laem in Samut Songkhram, Luang Por To (หลวงพ่อโต) of Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan and Luang Por Thong (หลวงพ่อทอง; also known as Luang Por Wat Khao Takrao–หลวงพ่อวัดเขาตะเครา) of Wat Khao Takrao in

Ban Laem Ban, or BAN, may refer to: Law * Ban (law), a decree that prohibits something, sometimes a form of censorship, being denied from entering or using the place/item ** Imperial ban (''Reichsacht''), a form of outlawry in the medieval Holy Roman ...

Phetchaburi Phetchaburi ( th, เพชรบุรี, ) or Phet Buri () is a town (''thesaban mueang'') in southern Thailand, capital of Phetchaburi Province. In Thai, Phetchaburi means "city of diamonds" (''buri'' meaning "city" in Sanskrit). It is approx ...

all of which are the principal Buddha images in the prominent temples of all central basin. Therefore, believed that all five were brothers. Prince

Vajirananavarorasa Vajirananavarorasa (also spelled ''Wachirayan, Watchirayanawarorot'', correct Pali spelling: Vajirañāṇavarorasa, th, วชิรญาณวโรรส, full title ''Somdet Phramahasamanachao Kromphraya Vajirananavarorasa'' สมเด� ...

granted temple the name of Wat Mongkol Chinda Ram (วัดมงคลจินดาราม; with the words Rai Khing in parenthesis after the name) but the locals call the temple Wat Mongkol Chinda Ram Rai Khing, later it was shorten to Wat Rai Khing. The temple is well known among Thais, faithful Buddhists frequently pay a visit to Wat Rai Khing to pay homage to the sacred Buddha image. Every Saturdays and Sundays, food and fruits are sold in front of the temple. This temple is also renowned for its natural fish sanctuary, a habitat of hundreds of thousands of

iridescent shark The iridescent shark, iridescent shark catfish (''Pangasianodon hypophthalmus'') is a species of shark catfish (family Pangasiidae) native to the rivers of Southeast Asia. Despite its name, it is not a shark. It is found in the Mekong basin as we ...

(''Pangasianodon hypophthalmus'') and black-spotted catfish (''Pangasius larnaudii''). Visitors can buy bread or

fish food Aquarium fish feed is plant or animal material intended for consumption by pet fish kept in aquariums or ponds. Fish foods normally contain macronutrients, trace elements and vitamins necessary to keep captive fish in good health. Approximatel ...

here to feed these fish. Also, the temple pier is home to a delicious spicy

tom yum Tom yum or tom yam (, ; th, ต้มยำ, ) is a type of hot and sour Thai soup, usually cooked with shrimp (prawn). The words "tom yam" are derived from two Thai words. ''Tom'' refers to the boiling process, while ''yam'' means 'mixed'. ...

noodles soup restaurant. Moreover, visitors can travel to the Wat Don Wai Floating Market, another famous floating market which is a source of various

Thai food Thai cuisine ( th, อาหารไทย, , ) is the national cuisine of Thailand. Thai cooking places emphasis on lightly prepared dishes with strong aromatic components and a spicy edge. Australian chef David Thompson, an expert on Thai ...

of the province, not far from here by taking Tha Chin River cruise (fare 60

baht The baht (; th, บาท, ; sign: ฿; code: THB) is the official currency of Thailand. It is divided into 100 ''satang'' (, ). The issuance of currency is the responsibility of the Bank of Thailand. SWIFT ranked the Thai baht as the 10th-m ...

/round trip) and can also see the scenery on both sides of the river and the way of life of the locals as well.

References

* * *

External links

* {{Coord, 13, 44, 33, N, 100, 15, 30.96, E, display=title Buddhist temples in Nakhon Pathom province Tourist attractions in Nakhon Pathom province Thai Theravada Buddhist temples and monasteries