Wat Bang Kung (The Temple in the Tree)

In the orchards of Samut Songkhram stands a temple you can barely see for the trees — literally. The little brick hall of Wat Bang Kung has been gripped for centuries by the roots of four great fig trees, which have grown over and around the walls until building and forest are one.

Why It’s Interesting

Step through the root-laced doorway and a serene golden Buddha sits in cool green half-light, the whole structure held in a cage of living wood. The surrounding park (a former Ayutthaya-era military camp) adds Thai-boxing statues and shrines, but the tree-clad bot is the unforgettable image — equal parts sacred and uncanny.

Getting There

It’s a short drive from Amphawa, easily combined with the floating market and the railway market at Maeklong. Quiet on weekday mornings; dress modestly as it’s an active place of worship.