Wat Niwet Thammaprawat
A working Buddhist temple built in Gothic Revival style to look like a European Christian church, complete with stained glass and pointed arches.
- Category
- Temples (Wat)
- Entrance fee
- Free (donation for the cable-car crossing; as of 2026, confirm locally)
- Hours
- Approx. 08:00-17:00 daily (as of 2026, confirm locally)
- Best time
- Combine with a Bang Pa-in Palace visit in the morning
- Time needed
- 30-45 minutes
About Wat Niwet Thammaprawat
This one genuinely surprises people. It is a working Buddhist temple built to look like a European Gothic church, with stained glass windows and pointed arches, the kind of place you do a double-take at. Underrated and unusual, and a perfect add-on to Bang Pa-in Palace right next door.
Getting there is half the fun. You cross the river on a small cable-car trolley beside the palace, a quirky little ride that kids and adults both enjoy. On the far side you find a real active temple that just happens to wear a cathedral's clothes.
Since it sits beside the palace, do the two together on a morning trip south. Thirty to forty-five minutes here is plenty, and it is a memorable contrast to everything else in the area.
Highlights
- Buddhist temple built in Gothic Revival church style
- Stained glass windows and pointed arches
- Quirky river crossing by cable-car trolley
- A genuinely active temple, not a replica
- Right beside Bang Pa-in Palace
Tips
- Combine it with Bang Pa-in Palace on the same morning trip
- Take the little cable-car trolley across the river, it is part of the fun
- It is a real working temple, so dress and behave respectfully
- Around 30-45 minutes is enough
How to get there
Beside Bang Pa-in Palace, ~18 km south of Ayutthaya; reached by a small free cable-car trolley across the river next to the palace