Wat Srisathong is also located in the Nakhon Chai Si district, the part of Nakhon Pathom province outside the city that I've explored the most so far. It's the most famous temple in Thailand, dedicated to Phra Rahu. Phra Rahu is often described as the god of darkness. Legend says he swallowed his two brothers, the moon and the sun, and sometimes expels them – this is the common explanation for solar eclipses. His body is completely black, except for his bust and head. He holds a golden sphere to his mouth, which is said to represent the sun. Phra Rahu is a fearsome deity, worshipped to ward off suffering and misfortune. Offerings are usually black: black grapes for business success, black liquor for a profitable investment, black coffee to grant wishes, black jelly for patience, black beans for progress, black rice for wealth and love, and black eggs for successful business dealings. His statue is located in a large courtyard just outside the parking lot. The viharas behind it are very beautiful and house some unusual outdoor statues. The temple on the right has a vaulted ceiling with magnificent paintings. Wat Srisathong was built in the early Rattanakosin period by villagers, most of whom were Laotian immigrants from Vientiane. During construction, the head of a Buddha statue was discovered, giving the temple the name Wat Hua Thong, Temple of the Golden Head. Later, the canal was dug, and the villagers moved closer to it to facilitate transportation. The temple was also relocated and renamed Wat Sri Sa Thong.

The temple is located near Nakhon Chai Si train station and is easily accessible by train or a 15-minute walk. However, there are not many trains per day, even when traveling from Hua Lamphong or Thonburi.

Wat Sri Sa Thong 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 Sri Sa Thong? The temple is located near Nakhon Chai Si railway station and is easily accessible by train and a 15-minute walk. However, there aren't many trains per day, even if you're coming from Hua Lamphong or Thonburi.