Wat Niwet Thammaprawat
Wat Niwet Thammaprawat
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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4.5
106 reviews
Excellent
57
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45
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4
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PORhibido
Krungthep Mahanakorn826 contributions
Apr 2021
Park your vehicle and take the cable car to this small Gothic-style temple situated on an islet carved out by the Chao Phraya. Constructed during the long reign of King Chulalongkorn who spent months in Europe (helping Thailand become the only SEA country to escape colonialism), the temple's décor isn't as exuberant as Catholic churches in Europe, but is still interesting for the combination of Buddhist and Christian elements, e.g. Buddha images standing on the altar. Exhausted? Head back to the "mainland" and have river prawns for lunch, famous all over the country and even featured in a few clips of Mark Wiens.
Written 15 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mollymoon_26
Bangkok, Thailand1,571 contributions
Oct 2020 • Family
Temple is located on the small island. Very impressive of free cable car running across the river from parking area to the temple. This is very unique temple cause it was a church before. Beautiful European architecture with pastel colour surrounded by many trees. Church turns to temple, so unique!
Written 9 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chuanmanon
Bangkok, Thailand486 contributions
Sept 2023 • Family
The temple is located on an island in the middle of the Chao Phraya River.
Must take the temple's cable car across the Chao Phraya River.
When crossing, you will encounter an ordination hall. which is decorated in Gothic style (like a Christian church)
Must take the temple's cable car across the Chao Phraya River.
When crossing, you will encounter an ordination hall. which is decorated in Gothic style (like a Christian church)
Written 12 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BorntocruiseUK
Heathfield, UK13,568 contributions
Apr 2014 • Couples
Wat Niwet Thammaprawat is the only Neo-Gothic monastery in Thailand and is located on an island in the Chao Phraya River opposite the Bang Pa In Palace near Ayutthaya.
Access is gained through a cable car strung across the river and manned by the monks from the temple which carries four passengers. Such a unique way of getting there. You can see the monks cranking the cable car over.
It reminds me of a very western church. With it's stain glass windows. Which on the day we were there threw rainbows of lights across the inside.
I loved the money tree where you write your prayer on the notes as offerings.
This was our first stop of the day so we were there early with very few other visitors. It was fabulous to watch all the monks go about their daily chores.
It has such a spiritual feel about the place. Would loved to have actually stayed for a few days as a retreat.
They were so friendly and helpful even though we were intruding on their space.
Hopefully my photographs will say more than words can.
We didn't know we were going here on our tour but I am so glad we did. I guess the simpleness of it was quite refreshing after all the ornate temples we had visited.
I would highly recommend a visit. But go early for it gets too hot and before too many people spoil the tranquility of this place.
We then continued our tour to Ayuttaya by long tail boat along the river, absolutely perfect.
Access is gained through a cable car strung across the river and manned by the monks from the temple which carries four passengers. Such a unique way of getting there. You can see the monks cranking the cable car over.
It reminds me of a very western church. With it's stain glass windows. Which on the day we were there threw rainbows of lights across the inside.
I loved the money tree where you write your prayer on the notes as offerings.
This was our first stop of the day so we were there early with very few other visitors. It was fabulous to watch all the monks go about their daily chores.
It has such a spiritual feel about the place. Would loved to have actually stayed for a few days as a retreat.
They were so friendly and helpful even though we were intruding on their space.
Hopefully my photographs will say more than words can.
We didn't know we were going here on our tour but I am so glad we did. I guess the simpleness of it was quite refreshing after all the ornate temples we had visited.
I would highly recommend a visit. But go early for it gets too hot and before too many people spoil the tranquility of this place.
We then continued our tour to Ayuttaya by long tail boat along the river, absolutely perfect.
Written 3 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IainNorthernIreland
Derry, UK557 contributions
Jul 2019 • Family
On a small island in the Chao Phrya river, just across from the Bang Pa-In royal estate and largely unnoticed by the busloads of visitors to that estate, stands what looks at first glance to be an English village. A street of Western-style buildings, complete with fence, trees, and lamp-posts, culminate in a fine if rather colourful neo-Gothic parish church.
The whole thing is actually a wat, a Thai Buddhist temple-monastery complex, and the church (which maintains the Western look inside as well as out) is its wiharn or worship hall.
Wat Niwet was a personal project of the great 19th-century Siamese king Rama V Chilalongkorn, the modernising monarch whose diplomatic and governing skills also kept the kingdom from becoming another Western colony. The king had a great fondness for Western style though this wat (designed by his European architect, a full-time court employee) is a rather extreme case.
Despite its character and attractiveness Wat Niwet gets few visitors, probably because most of those who come to Bang Pa-In are on organised day tours from Bangkok to Ayutthayaand just making a short stop. But if you make a trip specially to take your time at the estate - and I recommend that - do take in Wat Niwet as well. You get across to it on a cable car from the estate car park operated by the temple (no charge, donation appreciated).
The whole thing is actually a wat, a Thai Buddhist temple-monastery complex, and the church (which maintains the Western look inside as well as out) is its wiharn or worship hall.
Wat Niwet was a personal project of the great 19th-century Siamese king Rama V Chilalongkorn, the modernising monarch whose diplomatic and governing skills also kept the kingdom from becoming another Western colony. The king had a great fondness for Western style though this wat (designed by his European architect, a full-time court employee) is a rather extreme case.
Despite its character and attractiveness Wat Niwet gets few visitors, probably because most of those who come to Bang Pa-In are on organised day tours from Bangkok to Ayutthayaand just making a short stop. But if you make a trip specially to take your time at the estate - and I recommend that - do take in Wat Niwet as well. You get across to it on a cable car from the estate car park operated by the temple (no charge, donation appreciated).
Written 17 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris P
Troy444 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
You take a cable car to complex where you will see a facility that has a budda in a typical western religious structure. There are very few tourists at this attraction. We spent less than an hour
Written 4 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SenorGancho
Winnipeg, Canada1,135 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
What a fantastic experience. You cross over to the island via what seems like a shaky cable car. A monk is running it so it should be safe, right? Then we get to wander around observing the monks conduct their business. Fascinating. No shortage of dogs. Apparently if someone has a dog and can't look after it, they drop it off to the monks who will care for it.
The church is quite impressive showing its obvious Italian influence. Vibrant colours bring the inside to life and it is worth time to sit and contemplate the serenity of the place. We really enjoyed our time there and glad we visited. Recommend you do the same :-)
The church is quite impressive showing its obvious Italian influence. Vibrant colours bring the inside to life and it is worth time to sit and contemplate the serenity of the place. We really enjoyed our time there and glad we visited. Recommend you do the same :-)
Written 10 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aomb
Bangkok, Thailand338 contributions
Dec 2017 • Couples
This temple is an hour away from Bangkok. The temple is a Buddhist temple built in 1876 in Gothic Revival style designed by an Italian architect. It looks like a church with Buddha images inside. The temple is situated on a small island in the middle of Chaopraya river in Ayuthaya province. You can get to it by taking a unique cable car provided by the temple.
It s not a big temple but very unique and worth checking especially if you are in the area. It is actually right by Bangpain Palace.
It s not a big temple but very unique and worth checking especially if you are in the area. It is actually right by Bangpain Palace.
Written 5 December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Forevermui
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia888 contributions
Dec 2016 • Friends
Definitely a must visit if you happen to visit the Bang Pa-In Royal Palace. Wat Niwet Thammaprawat is located on an island on the Chao Phraya River, which is just opposite of the palace.
Key features:
1. Access via cable car
This could be the only temple in the world that is accessible via cable car. Free.
2. The temple is disguise as a church. Free entrance but donation welcome. This Royal temple is very beautiful. It is very interesting to see the blend of Western, Thai and Buddhist culture elements in this Wat Niwet Thammaprawat.
3. Very beautiful river view.
Key features:
1. Access via cable car
This could be the only temple in the world that is accessible via cable car. Free.
2. The temple is disguise as a church. Free entrance but donation welcome. This Royal temple is very beautiful. It is very interesting to see the blend of Western, Thai and Buddhist culture elements in this Wat Niwet Thammaprawat.
3. Very beautiful river view.
Written 2 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christian S
Bangkok, Thailand2,215 contributions
Jul 2014 • Friends
If you feel like seeing a most unusual Buddhist temple, do not miss Wat Niwet Thammaprawat. It is next door to the Summer Palace near the historical city of Ayutthaya. Its construction was commissioned by King Rama V in the late 19th century, at the same time as Bang Pa-In (the Summer Palace). Since it is built on an island of the Chao Phraya River, the only way to access this amazing place is by cable car! Each car can only sit 4 or 5 people at a time. The ride is free. A monk is in charge of operating the system, so you are under holy patronage! This is the first surprise. The second is the architecture of the monastery. It looks like a neo-gothic British village! It has recently been repainted in bright colors. The main temple looks like a country Gothic Church from outside as well as inside. The only difference is that the altar has a golden statue of Buddha. The monks' lodgings have been built in the same spirit. The garden is absolutely delightful and has some nice, old trees as well as a few Buddha statues. Now, if you feel this is an exotic place right there, think of how the Thais feel when they visit this way! They love it and enjoy having their pictures taken in front of some of these buildings!
Written 19 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Когда построен Монастырь Ват Нивет на реке Чао-Прай? История создания. С уважением, Гульфия.
Written 4 December 2018
Когда построен Монастырь Ват Нивет на реке Чао-Прай? История создания. С уважением, Гульфия.
Written 4 December 2018
อยากกราบขอพร สมเด็จฯ กรมพระยาดำรงราชานุภาพ มีอนุสาวรีย์ หรือ ให้กราบขอพรได้หรือไม่คะ
Written 2 September 2017
วัดนวลาชตั้งอยู่บนแม่น้ำเจ้าพระยาเมื่อไร? ประวัติความเป็นมาของการสร้างสรรค์ ขอแสดงความนับถือ Gulfiya
Written 4 December 2018
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