Wat Indharaviharn — Local services in Bang Khun Phrom Subdistrict

Tourist scam! We were talked into a tour of a few Buddha statues by a tuk tuk driver for 40 bhat. He assured us entrance to the temples were FREE multiple times. He first took us to a temple that was closed, then a jewelry store that kept pressuring us and other tourists to buy things. We talked to a few other tourists who looked equally confused and it turns out that we were all trapped into this scam. The final stop was the Wat Indharaviharn. Outside the temple there was a booth charging ONLY tourists 40 bhat to enter. When we said our tuktuk driver said it’s free, they were very rude, disrespectful and refused to let us stay around the vicinity that is OUTSIDE the temple (in a public road) without paying. Multiple men came telling us to leave. As a Buddhist, I will say that it is not common practice to charge anyone to visit a temple. This is a place of worship. Donations are accepted/encouraged but entrance fees are not. I strongly believe this booth and the men around the temple are not associated with the temple, and are just scamming tourists in collaboration with the tuktuk drivers. Be aware of any tours that include this temple and don’t trust when tuk tuk drivers claim anything is free. I’m sure the temple is beautiful but unfortunately there are local groups looking to take advantage of tourists so...

Wat Intharawihan or Wat Intharavihan is a Third Class Royal wat (temple) located in the Phra Nakhon District of Bangkok, Thailand. It is noted for its 32 metres (105 ft) high standing Buddha statue known as Luang Pho To or "Phra Si Ariyamettrai" that was erected on the inspiration of the still highly revered abbott Somdej Toh. The Wat is at the northern edge of the Banglamphu area of Phra Nakhon, Bangkok. Access to the temple is by boat along the Chao Praya River close to Thanin Wisut Kasat. Road access is through local transport. The northbound Samsen Road leads to this wat, which is hidden below the elevated expressway. Also called Wat In, of the late Ayutthaya Kingdom , when it was called Wat Bang Khunphrom Nok for the name of the suburb where it is located. The temple has an ordination hall called the Ubosot (prayer hall) also known linguistically as Bod. Its architecture reflects the style followed during the Ayutthaya Kingdom. It was refurbished in 1982. Italian marble is used to decorate the lower part of the hall and the walls are decorated with traditional paintings. The sema boundary posts marking the limits of the Ubosot are mounted over small naga images. The murals on the walls have the theme of the daily life. There is also a practice at this venue to make and...

Wat Intharawihan may not be as famous as some of Bangkok’s larger temples, but it holds its own with quiet power and grace—especially thanks to the towering 32-meter-tall standing Buddha, known as Luang Pho To. Clad in gold and rising high above the temple grounds, the statue is both humbling and awe-inspiring. It’s one of the tallest standing Buddha images in Thailand, and seeing it up close, you can’t help but feel a deep sense of peace and respect.

Unlike the busier temples, Wat Intharawihan has a more relaxed, less commercial vibe. It feels genuinely local, where people still come to pray, light incense, and quietly reflect. The surrounding grounds include smaller shrines, statues, and murals that add layers of detail to the experience—each corner holding a piece of Thailand’s spiritual and artistic heritage.

The temple’s history stretches back to the Ayutthaya period, and you can feel that legacy in the architecture and the reverence with which it’s maintained.

Wat Intharawihan is a beautiful reminder that you don’t have to be in the most famous place to feel something meaningful. It’s perfect for those looking to connect more deeply with Thai Buddhist culture in a quieter, more personal setting—away from the crowds, but...