Information and Directions:
Wat Phummarin Kudi Thong (วัดภุมรินทร์กุฎีทอง) is located across the Mae Klong River from Amphawa floating market to the North of Samut Songkhram town in the province of the same name. It is the first of five temples I visited in the area when I took a boat trip from the market.
Wat Phummarin Kudi Thong is not particularly unusual as Thai temples go although it is important because of the “Golden Teak Wood Kuti” and museum located there. The short boat ride across the Mae Klong River from Amphawa brings you to a jetty outside the temple although the temple can be accessed by road. The usual temple buildings are present and there are some interesting icons outside the Ubosoth(Bot).
The museum itself is fairly small but there are several rare artefacts located there. The walls are exquisitely carved teak.
The story of how the golden teak wood kuti got to Wat Phummarin Kudi Thong goes like this. A rich man once went to a nearby temple and asked the Abbott for a prediction about his daughters future. The Abbott foretold that she would be a queen which duly happened. The rich man was very pleased and promised to build a golden monks house(kuti) at the temple. This proved impossible, so instead he built a house of golden teak wood. Erosion by the river caused the house to collapse and it was subsequently moved to its current home at the temple which was renamed Wat Phummarin Kudi Thong to reflect the “golden house,” i.e. Kudi Thong.
There are no charges to visit the temple or museum. If coming by road the best access is afforded from Highway 325. Plenty of car parking is available.
GPS Co-ordinates: 13.419785 + 99.950681
Opinion:
A recommended stop if you are at Amphawa floating market or indeed staying in nearby Samut Songkhram. The boat trip that visits this and four other temples leaves from a jetty near the footbridge over the canal that accommodates the floating market and only costs 50 Baht. Plenty of good photographic opportunities. The boat trip only stays 20 mins at this temple which is barely adequate to take in the sights.
Last Visited: May 2010
View Wat Phummarin Kudi Thong on a map of the area.
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