Samut Prakan is located at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River. The town is only 25 kms. south of Bangkok and easily frequented by bus. Its old community settled in Phra Pradaeng (now a northern district) during the Ayutthaya Period. The modern town and several fortresses, were built by the command of King Rama ll in 1819.
The temple at Wat Bang Phli Yai Klang (วัดบางพลีใหญ่กลาง) contains a large Reclining Buddha image which is 53 metres long. It is called Somdet Phra Sakayamuni Si Sumet Bophit and is unique in Thailand as you can actually go inside to see the heart of the Buddha.
