Wat Khanon Temple is not primarily visited for its architecture, as it is a rather classical temple in that respect. However, it is famous as one of the last, if not the very last, places in Thailand where one of the oldest traditional Thai arts is preserved and passed on: Nang Yai, the monumental Thai shadow puppet theater. The temple houses a school where this art is taught and weekly performances are held (see below), as well as a museum dedicated to the large leather puppets and the history of this theatrical art. Remarkably, the museum preserves 313 Nang Yai figures, many of which depict characters from the Ramakien. The local tradition dates back to the reign of Rama V. The earlier abbot, Phra Khru Sattha Sunthon (Luang Pu Klom), brought together artisans to create new leather puppets for the performances. What is Nang Yai? Nang means leather and yai means large – a reference to puppets traditionally carved from leather (like the Nang Talung, which I've discussed at length in this video). Unlike many other puppet theaters worldwide, Nang Yai relies primarily on the shadows of its puppets. The puppeteers move with precise movements to the rhythm of the music, manipulating large leather templates representing characters in front of a lit screen. This creates a silhouette of color and shadow. Often, scenes from the Ramakien are performed, a story about the triumph of good over evil after the battle between King Rama and Tosakanth, the Demon King. P.S. A short excerpt of Nang Yai can be seen in the performance at the Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre. Admission is included in the ticket price for the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

Free temple entry. Nang Yai performance every Saturday at 10 am (please check beforehand as the group occasionally participates in events throughout Thailand. Admission is free, but a donation at the end of the performance to support the preservation of this traditional art is appreciated).

To get to Wat Khanon & Nang Yai Museum in Ratchaburi, you will need a vehicle. The journey from Bangkok takes 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Wat Khanon & Nang Yai Museum is a temple. When visiting a temple in Thailand, there are some rules to observe: appropriate clothing (knees and shoulders should be covered), remove shoes upon entering the building, be quiet, no hugging or kissing, do not point your feet at the Buddha statue, and do not smoke.

How to get there

How do I get to Wat Khanon & Nang Yai Museum? To get to Wat Khanon & Nang Yai Museum in Ratchaburi, you will need a vehicle. The journey from Bangkok takes 1 hour and 30 minutes.