Wat Sai, Singburi Province

Wat Sai is an absolute gem sitting just inside Singburi Province on the Chao Phraya River (across the river is Chai Nat Province). Some 400 years old and dating from the Ayutthaya period, it was originally called Wat Thayan before falling into disrepair. A wandering monk later discovered it, already overgrown with banyan trees and gave it its new name. The wat is a rare example of a single entrance ordination hall Bot Maha Ut – roofless at that. The roots, claiming a crushing victory (literally) over the brickwork, support huge trees which lend to the captivating atmosphere. Banyan trees can be centuries old with their roots becoming secondary trunks that can take over as the founding trunk recedes as the main supplier. In this way, there is no limit to the size of the trees. Certainly, there’s no stopping the ones at Wat Sai.