Wat Prayoon: the white chedi and the tortoise hill

Updated on October 5, 2026

Wat Prayurawongsawat Woramahawihan, known to everyone as Wat Prayoon, stands on the Thonburi bank, at the foot of Memorial Bridge. Its large white Sri Lankan-style chedi, surrounded by small chedis, can be seen from afar; the temple is above all home to an artificial hill, Khao Mo, ringed by a pond where turtles live, which earned it the nickname "temple of the turtle mountain". According to the guides consulted in October 2026, admission is free and the temple is open from about 6am to 6pm. Allow 30 to 45 minutes for the visit. The temple dates from the reign of Rama III (1824-1851): it was given to the king by Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Prayurawongse, a senior court dignitary, who devoted a coffee plantation he owned to its construction.

Highlights

The great white chedi

The tiered chedi, in Sri Lankan style, holds relics of the Buddha and stands amid eighteen smaller chedis. In 2013 it received a UNESCO Asia-Pacific award of excellence for cultural heritage conservation.

Khao Mo hill and the turtle pond

This rock hill decorated with small chedis, pavilions, spirit houses and rare plants is described as the largest and oldest artificial hill of its kind in Thailand. The pond around it is home to turtles and fish; a small stall sells bags of food for about THB 20, to be given to the animals with a stick.

The treasures of the chedi

During the 2006 works, more than 270 Buddha statues and thousands of amulets were found in the base of the chedi; they are on display in the temple's small museum of Buddha images.

A quiet stop

Calmer than the temples of Rattanakosin island, Wat Prayoon is often visited almost alone.

Infos pratiques

Tips

Clothing covering the shoulders and knees, shoes removed in the halls; see our guide to what to wear in temples. The turtles are temple animals: do not touch them or take them out of the water. The temple is close to Wat Kalayanamit and Santa Cruz Church, reached by the walkway along the river under the bridge: the three combine into a half-day, as our Thonburi guide suggests.

How to get there

Prachatipok Road, Wat Kanlaya, Thon Buri, Bangkok 10600. Take the Chao Phraya Express Boat to Memorial Bridge pier (N6), then cross the bridge on foot or by taxi: the temple is on the right just after the bridge. From MRT Sanam Chai, allow about 15 to 20 minutes on foot.