By NaJade · DJ in Bangkok · Published November 10, 2026
Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen is a royal temple on the Thonburi side of Bangkok, famous for a 69-metre seated Buddha and a five-storey chedi whose top floor holds a glowing green glass stupa. Entry is free. The easiest way there is the MRT Blue Line to Bang Phai station, then a 10–12 minute walk. Dress modestly and take your shoes off inside the chedi.
Ask most visitors about Bangkok temples and they’ll name the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun. Wat Paknam rarely makes the list, which is exactly why I like it. It’s a working temple where locals come to make merit, and the top floor of its chedi is one of the most striking interiors in the city.
Wat Paknam is free to enter and open daily, roughly from morning to early evening. Take the MRT Blue Line to Bang Phai and walk about 800 metres. See the 69-metre Buddha outside, then climb to the fifth floor of the chedi for the green glass stupa. Cover shoulders and knees.
What to See at Wat Paknam
| Sight | Where | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| The Big Buddha | Outdoors, in front of the chedi | Phra Buddha Dhammakaya Thepmongkhon: 69 m tall, 40 m across the lap |
| The great chedi | Centre of the grounds | Phra Maha Chedi Maha Ratchamongkhon: 80 m tall, five floors, completed in 2012 |
| Green glass stupa | Chedi, 5th floor | Around 8 m tall, under a richly painted ceiling |
| Luang Pu Sodh statue | Chedi, 4th floor | Life-sized golden statue of the temple’s famous abbot |
| Canal-side grounds | Around the temple | Locals feed fish as a merit-making ritual |
The Buddha was begun in 2017 and completed around 2021, and is often described as the largest Buddha statue in Bangkok. You’ll see its head from the BTS and MRT long before you arrive. Wikipedia’s Wat Paknam page has the full history.
The Glass Stupa and the Chedi
The chedi is the real reason to come. Shoes come off at the entrance, then you work your way up through the floors. The lower levels hold a museum of donated objects and devotional displays; the fourth floor has the golden statue of Luang Pu Sodh Candasaro, the abbot who founded the Dhammakaya meditation method and whose body is still kept at the temple.
The fifth floor is the moment. A translucent green glass stupa stands in the centre of the room, surrounded by a dome painted with Buddhist cosmology. The light shifts through the day, and it’s usually quiet enough to sit for a while. Photos are generally fine, but keep your voice down — people come here to meditate. The Bangkok Post’s feature on the area gives more background on the chedi and the neighbourhood.
How to Get to Wat Paknam
| Route | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| MRT Blue Line | Bang Phai station, then walk about 800 m | 10–12 min walk |
| BTS Silom Line | Wutthakat station, then walk about 1.4 km, or Talat Phlu and walk through the neighbourhood | 15–20 min walk |
| Taxi or Grab | Direct to the temple gate | Depends heavily on traffic |
| Canal boat tour | Some private Thonburi canal tours stop at the temple pier | Varies by tour |
The MRT is the simplest option. If you’re new to it, read the MRT Bangkok guide, or the BTS Skytrain guide if you’re coming from Silom or Sukhumvit.
Hours, Entry and Etiquette
- Entry: free. Donation boxes are there if you want to contribute.
- Hours: published times vary between sources, roughly 8am to 6pm. The chedi interior may close earlier, so arrive before late afternoon.
- Dress: cover shoulders and knees, as at any Thai temple. See what to wear in Bangkok.
- Shoes: off before entering the chedi and any hall.
- Behaviour: don’t point your feet at Buddha images, don’t climb on anything, and keep noise low. More in Thai etiquette in Bangkok.
- Best time: morning or late afternoon for softer light and cooler weather.
Combining It With Other Temples
Wat Paknam is a little out of the old-town circuit, so it pairs well with other Thonburi sights. A good half-day plan: Wat Paknam in the morning, lunch around Talat Phlu, then across to Wat Arun for late afternoon. If you’re building a full temple day, add Wat Pho and the Golden Mount. Khaosod English also ran a recent piece on the giant Buddha worth reading before you go.
A Note From NaJade
I first came to Wat Paknam because I kept seeing the giant Buddha from the train on the way to a gig and wanted to know what it was. I expected a photo stop. What I got was twenty minutes sitting on the floor of that fifth-floor room, watching the light move through the green glass and not thinking about anything at all. For someone whose job is noise, that kind of stillness is rare. My advice: go on a weekday morning, skip the urge to rush to the next sight, and give the top floor a little time. Bangkok’s famous temples are wonderful, but this is the one I recommend to friends who think they’ve already seen it all.
More: Wat Arun, Wat Pho, Thai etiquette, and the MRT.
Frequently Asked Questions
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About the Author
NaJade is a Bangkok-based DJ playing progressive house, melodic EDM, pop, and Thai music across clubs, rooftops, and weddings in Thailand — and has lived in the city long enough to have made every one of these mistakes at least once. Find him on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
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