Wat Pho Bang Khla

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Wat Pho Bang Khla is a riverside temple in Bang Khla district of Chachoengsao, famous for the thousands of fruit bats that roost in its trees by day. The colony of large flying foxes hanging over an old Buddhist compound beside the Bang Pakong River makes this one of Thailand's most unusual temple visits.

Nowhere else near Bangkok can you stand in a temple courtyard beneath trees laden with giant bats. The spectacle, combined with the temple's age, its river setting and Bang Khla's markets and mangoes, makes a distinctive half-day trip well off the standard tourist trail.

The flying fox colony draped through the temple's tall trees is the unmistakable highlight, wheeling into the sky when disturbed or at dusk. The temple itself preserves an old ordination hall and monastic buildings, and the riverbank gives fine views over the Bang Pakong.

Walk the shaded grounds watching and listening to the bats overhead, pay respects in the temple halls, and take in the river frontage. Boat trips from Bang Khla's market often pass the colony, showing the trees from the water.

The bat-filled trees are the essential sight; look for the animals fanning themselves in the heat and squabbling over roosting spots. The temple's older buildings and the riverside terrace complete the visit.

Late afternoon rewards patient visitors, as the colony grows restless before its evening flight out to feed. The quiet corners of the compound, where monastic life continues beneath the noise of the bats, have their own charm.

The bats are protected by the sanctuary that Thai temples traditionally extend to animals on their grounds, a living example of Buddhist ethics in practice. Observing how monks, worshippers and wildlife share the space is the cultural heart of the visit.

The colony consists of large fruit bats, commonly known as flying foxes, roosting in riverside trees. Their dusk departure across the Bang Pakong is a memorable natural spectacle, and the river setting adds birdlife and breezes.

Children are usually captivated, and a little unnerved, by the sight and sound of thousands of bats overhead. The visit is short, free and easily combined with boat rides and market treats in Bang Khla, making it a good family stop.

Bang Khla has no nightlife, but dusk here offers something better: the mass departure of the bats to feed. After that, evening options mean dinner in Bang Khla town or back in Chachoengsao.

Silhouettes of bats against the sky, close-ups of animals hanging in the trees, and the dusk fly-out over the river are the classic shots. A zoom lens helps, and patience at late afternoon delivers the most action.

Wat Pho Bang Khla is an old temple, with local tradition dating it to the late Ayutthaya or Thonburi period and linking the Bang Khla area to King Taksin's eighteenth-century campaigns. The bat colony has occupied the temple's trees for generations, protected by monastic custom.

Locals regard the bats as part of the temple's identity and treat the colony with protective pride. The temple remains a working centre of Buddhist life for Bang Khla's riverside community, with merit-making continuing beneath the roosting trees.

The cool season from November to February is the most comfortable, and late afternoon offers the liveliest bat activity ahead of the dusk fly-out. Mornings are quieter if you prefer calm observation.

Bang Khla is hot from March to May, wet from roughly June to October and pleasantly dry from November to February. Shade from the temple's big trees softens the heat, though the smell of the colony is stronger in hot weather.

The temple follows the Buddhist calendar with holy days, Songkran and end-of-rains ceremonies. Bang Khla's mango season fairs in the hot months add a district-wide reason to visit; check dates locally.

Combine the temple with the Bang Khla floating market and the golden ubosot of Wat Pak Nam Jolo for a half-day district circuit. Arrive at the bats in late afternoon if you want to witness the dusk departure before dinner.

Thirty minutes to an hour suffices for the colony and temple. Add time if waiting for the dusk fly-out or combining with a river boat trip.

Bang Khla lies a short drive northeast of Chachoengsao town, itself about 80 kilometres from Bangkok by road or rail. Songthaews link Chachoengsao with Bang Khla, and the temple is a short local ride from the district centre.

The compound is small and walked in minutes. For the wider Bang Khla circuit, a car, motorbike or negotiated tuk-tuk works best, with boats an option along the river.

Chachoengsao Junction railway station and the town bus terminal are the nearest hubs, with songthaew services towards Bang Khla. Boat trips from the Bang Khla market also pass the temple's riverside trees.

The grounds are typically open daily during daylight hours, and the bats are present year-round by day. Temple halls open around monastic routines; visit within normal daytime hours.

Entry is free, with donation boxes for the temple's upkeep. Boat viewings from the river are priced separately by local operators.

Bang Khla town, minutes away, has noodle shops, riverside eateries and its weekend waterfront market with grilled river food and sweets. Drinks vendors sometimes operate near the temple gate.

This is mango country, so seasonal khao nam dok mai mangoes and mango sticky rice lead the local table, alongside Bang Pakong river fish and prawns and Thai-Chinese market sweets.

Simple guesthouses and small riverside resorts serve Bang Khla, with fuller options in Chachoengsao town. Most visitors come on a day trip from Bangkok or Chachoengsao.

The visit itself costs nothing beyond transport and any donation. A combined Bang Khla half day, including market food and a boat ride, remains a genuinely cheap outing.

There is little at the temple beyond occasional amulet and offering stalls; Bang Khla's markets nearby supply mango products, dried fruit and sweets.

Do not touch, feed or deliberately disturb the bats, and avoid standing directly beneath dense roosts for obvious reasons. A hat is wise, and normal temple courtesy applies throughout the grounds.

The compound is flat and shaded, making the bat viewing accessible to most visitors, including wheelchair users with assistance on uneven patches. Temple halls involve steps.

Thai is the local language; asking for wat khang khao, the bat temple, gets you directed correctly anywhere in Bang Khla. Basic greetings and a wai are appreciated, as English is scarce.

Visit late afternoon for the liveliest scenes, keep noise down so the colony rests undisturbed, and dress modestly as at any temple. Combine with Bang Khla's market and golden ubosot to fill the trip.

A hat, camera with zoom, water and modest clothing cover the needs. Binoculars add a lot for watching behaviour high in the trees.

The colony survives because it is left in peace; keep your distance, never throw anything to provoke flight, and support the temple with a donation. Choose boat operators who idle quietly past the roost.

The Bang Khla floating market and Wat Pak Nam Jolo's golden ordination hall are minutes away, with Wat Saman Rattanaram and Khlong Khuean Ganesh Park on the road back towards Chachoengsao town.

The temple is administered by its monastic community, with the bat colony informally protected under temple custom. Provincial visitor information comes from the Tourism Authority of Thailand office covering Chachoengsao.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.