Wat Ban Rai is one of the most famous temples in Nakhon Ratchasima province, as it was the residence of the revered monk Luang Pho Khun Parisuttho, who passed away in 2015. Many devotees came from all over the country to see him. Today, it is still the monk, whose enormous statue stands in the temple and is adorned with pictures and depictions of him, that attracts visitors, but also the Wihan Thep Wittayakhom, a building in the shape of a giant elephant, erected on a pond. The architecture of this hall is unique in Thailand! Originally, Wat Ban Rai was a small monastery, which was then expanded by the highly respected Luang Pho Khun, who also became abbot. The complex is quite large today, and visitors particularly remember the Wihan Thep Wittayakhom with its large elephant head standing on a pond. It is the largest ceramic mosaic temple in Asia! It consists of more than 20 million mosaic tiles. It was built with the intention of being a cathedral of the Tripitaka, the scriptures that summarize the teachings of Buddha. The exterior walls are decorated with mosaics in dozens of different styles. Inside, to the left of the large circular room containing the statue of Luang Pho Khun, a spiral corridor leads past large wall frescoes depicting Thai stars and personalities to the top of the building, where statues of the striding Buddha and the monk stand. In the basement, there is a room filled with colorful light displays. Even if you have visited many temples in Thailand, this one will not leave you unmoved!

No entrance fee. Wat Ban Rai is open from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. I was able to enter the complex from 5:30 AM, although the ascent via the spiral walkway is only possible from 7:00 AM. The Elephant Hall closes at 5:00 PM. The rest of the complex is open until at least 6:00 PM and often later, so you usually have some time for sunset photos. If, like me, you want to enjoy the sunset at the temple (even though it was very cloudy when I was there), take night photos (the building is illuminated from 7:00 PM, but not all night), and experience the sunrise the next morning, you can stay at the nearby Chatpailyn Resort, which is only a 3-minute walk away. It's a small resort with basic bungalows but offers very good value for money (I paid 500 THB in May 2022). It's best to plan on having dinner there.

Wat Ban Rai is located 70 kilometers from the city of Nakhon Ratchasima. The journey there takes about an hour. There is no public transportation to facilitate travel to and from Wat Ban Rai. Therefore, it is recommended to travel by private vehicle.

Wat Ban Rai is a temple, and when visiting a temple in Thailand there are some rules to follow: appropriate clothing (knees and shoulders should be covered), take off your shoes when entering the building, be quiet, do not hug or kiss, do not point your feet at the Buddha statue, do not smoke.

How to get there

How do you get to Wat Ban Rai? Wat Ban Rai is located 70 kilometers from Nakhon Ratchasima. The journey takes about an hour. There is no public transportation to facilitate getting to and from Wat Ban Rai. Therefore, it is recommended to travel by private vehicle.