A Hidden Gem in Bangkok's Countryside: My Budget-Friendly Guide to the Giant Dragon Temple

Hello everyone who's made it this far!

I've been hearing about Wat Samphran or Temple of the Giant Dragon (the 'wat' part means temple in Thai, which might help you navigate) for ages, but it was still a pretty far-off idea - I mean, it's 50 km from Bangkok. But the pictures I saw really got my imagination going, so I decided to give it a shot.

HOW TO GET TO WAT SAMPHRAN

Let me get this straight: there are a few ways to get to the temple, but you need a backup plan, just in case. So, if you're taking the bus, make sure you've got some cash for a taxi handy.

1 way - the easiest, fastest, and most convenient: Taxi. You can take a taxi from your hotel, but keep in mind it's a bit of a trek since the temple is in a different province. If you're feeling flush or traveling with a big group, this is the way to go. We actually took the metro and then a taxi, but we got a bit sneaky. There were just two of us, and we didn't want to shell out 1000 baht for the ride, so we took the metro to the end of the line and then hailed a taxi. The closest metro station is Lak Song on the blue line. You need to get off at the exit with the flower on the building, exit 3 or 4. From there, just grab a taxi. It's a straight shot, then it'll turn right and left. If you've got a map, it's easy to follow the route and show it to the driver every now and then - they often ask you to do that. Make sure to ask the driver to turn on the meter! The fare should be around 200-220 baht.

Tell the driver you want to go to Wat Samphran, and it's a good idea to show him a picture of the temple just in case. Even then, he might ask you for a map on the way there. That happened to us. Just keep that in mind.

Check out the photos below of the metro station and exit. Save them to your phone so you can show the taxi driver the way back!

There's a 7/11 right outside the metro exit, so you can grab a snack there. There are some cafes around the temple area, but they might not be open.

We even fed the local dogs.

2 way - the strangest, but everywhere so often hyped and not clear to me: Metro+bus . I immediately want to note that bus numbers here have a tendency to change! And if you've found information somewhere that you need 84 or 556, it doesn't mean that's the one you need right now. But you will definitely need a bus on the way: "Bangkok-Sam Phran" . You can also take a screenshot and show it to the taxi drivers. But! Not all of them speak English, the bus may run every hour or two, many will strongly advise you to take a taxi, and also - you'll only get to the turn where you'll have to walk for 20 minutes. Don't get lost, as the building and the dragon itself will be visible from a distance. To use this method, you need to get off the metro earlier - get to the Bang Wa station and exit on exit 3 or 4 - there will be a 7/11 right next to the bus stop.

I'll admit it to you, we initially took this way too. But the heat at plus 37 degrees and the persistent advice from the locals to use a taxi service took its toll. So we took a taxi from the stop. Consequently, the taxi cost us more - as the route was longer than in the first way. So, no matter how much you want to save, I still recommend you go back up and use method number 1. 3 way - the most comfortable, but also the most annoying: rented car . The route will be built by your navigator and it's the simplest.

I immediately want to point out that getting a taxi back will be a bit more complicated. There are almost no taxis near the temple, as there are almost no tourists there. You might get lucky, like we did, and find a taxi driver who's not too good at English and can't see very well, but count on having to walk to the highway. This is about 20 minutes. You should also get back to the metro.

And here you are driving in a taxi and already see this massive structure in the window!

By the way, here's the dragon and what's so strange about the temple's appearance

Dragons are everywhere in Thailand. They symbolize longevity, wisdom, and maturity. They represent both natural and supernatural power. They bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. Thais are a superstitious people.

I was greeted by dragons, but they're completely different from the ones I've seen before. Even at the entrance, there are two - I guess they're for tourists.

By the way, the approach to the temple is lined with beautiful trees in bloom - the whole road smells amazing.

To the right of the dragon, there's another temple with barely any English signs - it's probably for locals, but tourists still manage to visit and take photos. Luckily, Thais are friendly and don't shout at them.

So, what does our dragon mean, wrapping around the building and trying to climb up? The meaning is deep, but also relatable: spiritual growth, detachment from the world, and the path from childhood to adulthood. Thailand has many diverse temples with strict building codes, but they don't seem to follow them.The Dragon Temple is an interesting place, both visually and energetically.

It was closed to tourists for a long time, but not to monks - it was actually closed by law because monks were performing some sort of rituals inside. It opened in 1985, but it took even longer for tourists to be allowed in.

PREPARING TO VISIT THE TEMPLE!

The temple is located in a garden with other interesting structures. Admission is free, but be respectful of the locals and follow two basic rules: cover your shoulders and knees. You won't be kicked out if you show up with your knees exposed, but there aren't any shops where you can buy pants or rent them, so plan ahead. And don't forget to bring socks! I'll explain why later.

SCULPTURES, PAVILIONS, AND OTHER PARK CREATURES...

If you don't rush straight to the dragon, take a stroll around the park first. It's big and beautiful, with some areas a bit overgrown. Keep in mind that they release dogs in the evening to guard the territory, so it's best not to linger too long. We saw them during the day - it's quite a sight, and they bark loudly enough to scare me a bit. There are big fish and monitor lizards in the park.

Since there are hardly any tourists here, the chances of disturbing a sleeping creature are high. Don't be afraid, but do be alert!

Start by entering the mouth of the big turtle. There aren't many monks here - we mostly met them near the Dragon, and it was very quiet here. Only the loudspeaker was playing something in Thai, and birds were singing.

We weren't sure if we could go inside, since there was no one around. But then we thought, 'If we weren't supposed to go in, there would probably be a sign.' So we took a chance.

Inside, we found silence, a strange tunnel, and prayer areas.By the way, bring some cash to put in the donation boxes – it's for the temple's upkeep. No need to, but you might feel like it, and in some places, you'll get the chance to touch sacred objects and make a wish. The monks don't push you, but sometimes they'll nudge you toward the boxes and give you a disapproving look.

I felt like putting money in two places, even though there was no strong pressure to do so. And at the end, I was rewarded with an interesting ritual involving prayer.

Okay, let's get back inside the turtle...

There are signs now telling us where we can and can't go, and the warnings are duplicated in English:

Downstairs, there's some sort of sacred boat, I think.

A weird, empty corridor:

And an exit to the other part of the park:

Everywhere, there are footprints and signs in Thai. In some places, there are even kid-sized footprints and handprints. I figured these were from people who were actively involved in building the temple.

The area is beautiful, with sculptures everywhere – and you can even go inside the peacock:

There are donation slots everywhere. I'm pretty sure the monks live off these donations. The monks actually live right here on the premises. Don't worry, if you try to go somewhere that's closed, you'll find a way in. Just be careful of the dogs – they were barking pretty aggressively.

The area is pretty big, so you can easily spend an hour and a half just walking around. Don't forget that there's a 7/11 at the beginning of the path where you can grab some food. You won't need to bring much water.Tu

There's a toilet, and there are signs everywhere. Actually, there are three toilets that we found.

The monks' living quarters are right here too:

There are overgrown benches somewhere.

As I walked along, I stumbled upon some pretty interesting sculptures from the war era, and some newer ones too. Like this guy with an IV and a weird stomach - I still can't figure out what this composition is supposed to mean, there was no English sign, just Thai:

Here's a size comparison with a turtle - I'm standing in front of it.

And then we walked through the elephant to get to the main attraction - the massive temple building with a dragon:

At the entrance, there are photos of the ruling family.

And then there's the main event - the 80-meter-tall dragon climbing the building. That height isn't random, by the way - it's said that the Buddha left the material world at exactly 80 years old.

There are tons of little dragons everywhere, as I mentioned earlier.

Don't rush inside just yet! Take a walk around the building first. You'll see a bunch of monks sitting by donation boxes, asking for money. And at the bottom, there's one of the dragon's legs with five claws. Starting from the first claw (they're labeled), you can put your hand on it and make a wish.

I have to say, the dragon's paw is pretty cool, but the real showstopper is the dragon's heart, which is literally the first place I'd put my money. You have to ask for something good, put your hands together, and think about it - they promise it'll all come true. It's all about faith and your desire, and of course, the most precious thing will come true!

I noticed there are a lot of animal symbols here, like the snake, dragon, pig, monkey, dog, and so on. Plus, many locals come here to pray - remember, this is an active temple.

When you go inside, you'll see the first floor of the temple. That's where you'll find this nun who literally points to a box and asks for money, shouting something in Thai. Downstairs, there's an elevator, but they don't let regular tourists use it. So, be prepared to climb up the dragon's body - it's way more fun than taking the elevator! Speaking of which, here's the entrance:

Inside, it's just a concrete tunnel with fans. Without them, the climb would be almost impossible! And there's lighting, too.

After a few minutes of climbing, we reached the 14th floor, and there was a staircase leading up to the dragon's head.

By this point, we had windows and could see the giant up close. There were even cups and water, although we didn't have any water when we were in the temple. Notice that it's not just stone dragons living here: there are also real, live bats flying around, screaming their heads off. Don't worry, though - I'm prepared! And then we reached the top! At 80 meters high, we found a regular old... tent. I was totally surprised to see it there. For tourists, they set up a little frame:

From the top, you can see Buddha and the fields - the monks grow rice and other crops here for themselves. And then there's the dragon! I took this picture while literally pushing through the pain: The thing is, getting into the temple - from the dragon's lap - is just like getting into any other temple in Thailand: no shoes allowed! So, you'll have to walk through the tunnel barefoot. It's not so bad, especially since you're in Thailand. But when you head up, the sun does its thing and standing on those slabs is just impossible! They feel like hot coals. I had a weird experience - I compared it to walking barefoot on those slabs. So, don't forget to bring some socks, like I mentioned earlier! We walked barefoot, and it was 38 degrees outside - I'll never forget that feeling. After descending from the dragon's head, I wanted to put some money in the donation box again, and the monks were really nice. They gave us a prayer for my mom - that's the idea:

Then, after you understand why, they give you these golden leaflets, and you stick them onto the statues with good thoughts. Before approaching some of them, it's a good idea to read about them below. The monks will guide you and help.

And then, after descending and chatting with the symbol of your year:

We walked to the Buddha.

It's also really hot there, and the area is quite big, so the Thais thoughtfully put down some slippers you can wear while walking around.

Walking around temples in Thailand, you quickly get used to the whole barefoot thing. It's like walking around without shoes, but without the risk of stepping on scorching hot rocks. So, do you go in with your shoes on or off? That's up to you. Tucked away in the corner is a Buddha and a nearby temple. Just a friendly reminder: when visiting a temple, it's considered rude to turn your back on the Buddha.

Inside the temple, you can snap a photo with a dragon in the background...

Downstairs, you can take a break from the heat and admire the artwork on the floor, depicting sinners in hell:

It looks like some kind of local service is taking place. You can also grab a free drink from one of the many water stations scattered around the temple. Just take what you want, or leave a few baht if you like.

Next to the Buddha is a gong. Ringing it is said to bring good luck and help make your wishes come true.Walking out of the temple, you'll find these little dragon statues - they're hollow inside, but you can climb them for a similar view.

The locals who live in the province, where tourists aren't as common, walk around the temple grounds. This sweet old lady was begging us to take a photo with her and kept saying how beautiful we looked.

She didn't even know how to use her phone properly, but she was so genuine. We helped her take a selfie with us, and she kissed my hand and pressed her forehead against it - I have no idea why. Alright, I think that's enough of my time, and I'll let you explore the rest on your own. I hope I've inspired you to visit this temple and see it all for yourself.

Don't forget to cover your knees and shoulders, and bring something for your feet, so you don't end up running around like I did.

Until next time, and all the best to you! Keep traveling, discovering the world, and it'll reveal new colors to you - trust me, it's true. Whatever life throws at you, just love this world.