Visiting Wat Nak Prok: A Hidden Cultural Treasure in Bangkok - Thailand (Part 1/2).

Wat Nak Prok is a historic Buddhist temple located in Bangkok, Thailand. It is situated in the Phasi Charoen district and is well known for its peaceful atmosphere and cultural significance. The temple was built during the Ayutthaya period and later restored in the Rattanakosin era, reflecting traditional Thai architectural styles and religious art. One of the most distinctive features of Wat Nak Prok is its beautiful statues of Phra Nak Prok, Phayanak Naga and Ordination Hall Ubosot, which houses important Buddha images and detailed murals that illustrate Buddhist teachings and Thai history. The temple’s design blends classic Thai elements with subtle Chinese influences, showing the cultural diversity that has shaped Bangkok over the centuries.

Magnificent of Phayanak statue in Wat Nak Prok. This sacred temple remains an active place of worship and community gathering. It serves as a center for religious ceremonies, meditation, and local cultural activities. With its historical background and serene surroundings, Wat Nak Prok continues to be an important spiritual and cultural landmark in Bangkok.

Photo taken in front of Mondop Luang Pu Chu Khong ChooNam, A revered former abbot and respected monk honored within the temple complex. A statue of him is enshrined in the mondop (a Thai-style shrine pavilion), and many visitors pay respects for blessings and merit.

Luang Pu Chu Khong ChooNam was a respected senior monk who served as the former abbot of Wat Nak Prok and became widely revered among devotees at the temple. Locally, he is honored for his compassionate guidance, spiritual presence, and reputation for helping people with prayer and merit-making. He was originally named Chu Kongchunam and was born in Nakhon Si Thammarat province in southern Thailand, with his upbringing in a merchant family. He ordained as a monk according to his parents’ wishes and dedicated his life to Buddhist practice and community service. Over the years he became abbot at Wat Nak Prok and was known for leading religious ceremonies, blessing devotees, and supporting the temple’s activities. He was one of a long-serving abbot, he helped shape the temple’s role as a center for worship and cultural activity.

Photo taken with Sacred Naga figures and serpent guardians — including large Naga statues and themed prayer areas that many visitors find auspicious. Beside have man-made cave for Phaya Naga.

The cave is designed as a sacred mystical space inspired by the legend of the Phaya Naga (King of the Serpents). It creates the feeling of entering an underground spiritual realm. Inside we could see the symbolic treasures, gold-colored decorations, and offering items placed by worshippers. These represent devotion, prosperity, and faith in the protective power of the Naga. Many devotees offer flowers, incense, candles, and symbolic valuables to ask for luck, success, or protection. Several statues of Phra Lersi (Ruesi) are enshrined inside. The cave also displays sacred Yantra symbols. Yantras are mystical geometric designs used in Thai Buddhist and Brahmanic traditions for protection, luck, and spiritual power.

The new project for Wat Nak Prok to build Phra Nak Prok Five Buddha statue, standing 35 meters tall (equivalent to a 12-story building). Above is the mini 3D model for the new Phra Nak Prok statue.

During my visit to Wat Nak Prok, I had the meaningful opportunity to make merit (tamboon) and receive a blessing for the amulets I had obtained at the temple. A senior monk kindly performed a chanting ritual, softly reciting sacred Pali verses while sprinkling holy water over the amulets. Although amulets are traditionally consecrated during official temple ceremonies, receiving an additional personal blessing from a respected monk felt deeply special and spiritually uplifting. The moment was peaceful and sincere, strengthening my faith and connection to the sacred Phra Nak Prok image and the temple’s Naga symbolism.

Wat Nak Prok’s main Wiharn pavilion is where its principal Phra Nak Prok statue is enshrined. This Wiharn (sanctuary hall) is a prominent building at the temple specifically built to house the sacred Phra Nak Prok image — a Buddha in Mara Vijaya (triumph over Mara) posture sheltered by the seven‑headed Naga above.

Photo taken at the front of the main Wiharn (sanctuary hall) of Wat Nak Prok, there are several Naga statues and related sacred figures enshrined (Phra SangKaChai NakProk, Luang Pho NakProk, Phra Sivali, Phra Upakut), creating a striking and symbolic entrance to the temple’s principal hall.

The main sacred Phra Nak Prok image — a Buddha in Mara Vijaya (triumph over Mara) posture sheltered by the seven‑headed Naga above.

One of the most striking features inside the viharn at Wat Nak Prok is the series of wooden pillars beautifully painted with images of Phaya Naga. The intricate artwork shows the sacred serpent in vivid colors, coiling gracefully along the pillars as a symbol of protection and spiritual power. Surrounding these pillars are several Luang Pho Nak Prok statues — Buddha images seated in meditation beneath the shelter of the multi-headed Naga. The combination of traditional wood craftsmanship, detailed Naga paintings, and sacred Buddha statues creates a powerful spiritual atmosphere, reflecting the temple’s deep connection to Naga symbolism and the legend of the Buddha being protected during meditation.

Shrine for Mercy Bodhisattva Guan Yin in Wat Nak Prok.

During my visit to Wat Nak Prok, I also noticed a new sacred statue currently under construction within the temple grounds. The ongoing construction reflects the temple’s continuous development and dedication to preserving and expanding its spiritual space for devotees.

In addition to its sacred spaces Hall building of Wat Nak Prok, Wat Nak Prok also has a few small hawker stalls within the temple grounds selling drinks and snacks. These modest vendors offer refreshments such as bottled water, soft drinks, iced beverages, and light snacks for visitors and worshippers.

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See more amulets from Wat Nak Prok at:

👉 https://thaiamulets-dhammapath.blogspot.com/search/label/Wat%20Nak%20Prok?m=0

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See more other Thai amulets at:

👉 http://www.thaiamulets-dhammapath.blogspot.com/?m=0