Thailand Guide
The central plains
Wat Tham Mangkon Thong (Floating Nun Temple)
Opening time: Daily 8am–6pm
Otherwise known as the Floating Nun Temple, Wat Tham Mangkon Thongis fairly tacky, its big draw being the eponymous nun who, clad in white robes, will get into the temple pond and float there, meditating – if tourists offer enough money to make it worth her while. The floating takes place on a round pond at the foot of the enormous dragon staircase that leads up to the temple embedded in the hillside behind. The temple itself comprises an unexceptional network of low, bat-infested limestone caves, punctuated at intervals with Buddha statues.
Travelling by bicycle or motorbike, take the ferry across the Mae Khlong River at Tha Chukkadon and then follow the road on the other side for about 4km. By car, turn west off Thanon Saeng Chuto (Highway 323) about 3km south of town onto Route 3429, which bridges the river and takes you north then west to the temple. Alternatively, take bus #8191 (every 30min; 20min) from Kanchanaburi bus station; the last return bus passes the temple at about 4.15pm.