I wanted to visit to get a tattoo from a monk and have it blessed as the Temple is world famous.
Therein lies the problem.
We visited on a quiet, wet Saturday afternoon, disregarding the advise available here. The Temple and surrounding area was lovely, however, as soon as a Western or indeed, non Thai face is seen, then the price rockets!
A traditional Sak Yant tattoo for my Thai partner, 2,000 baht. Same for me 8,000 baht, no discount for Thai Driving Licence holder!
The same tattoo, price for a Thai person arriving unaccompanied, 1,000 baht!
Go for the Temple and the lovely café just over the river, free ferry service. Look at the tattoo process, and leave is my advise.
This is the best place for your Yant Tattoo. The monks who make them are very skilled. I got my first one in april 2013.I went downstairs and I got the Gao Yord that controls all other Yants from the neck down. There was no hassle or anything. Get your things and make the offer to the monk and follow the rituals like the thais do. If you don't know how, do some research. I do have to say I went there with my thai gf who has many tattoos done there. When the tattoo was made it wasn't as painful as I was thinking it would. But the tattoo is from a very high quality and was done very good. After 5 years it still looks beautiful. I will go back again for a sip soong yord.
About payment,..it is same like the thai do, you give the monk what you can afford. If you are poor less if you are rich you can give more, but I dont know how that is now, and if you go there as a farang alone, as it is a few years ago for me when I went there. But I will go back again. If you want a real yant, you should go here.
First of all this is no disrespect against the monks / religion or anything.
Just for us foreigners it’s really weird why we get charged 10 times more.
Of course I went upstairs because I didn’t want to have the shared needle thing anyway. Same tattoo same size cost the thai lady 1200 and they pleased me to pay 4000.
Actually hard trip plus waist of time on my opinion BUT also interesting to see.
The rooms downstairs is very interesting.
An amazing place to visit, I’ve got my 4th tattoo so far. Only around 50km from Bangkok central. If your choosing a tattoo do some research on the meanings and also go upstairs to choose your own. The third time I went there I went downstairs to get the tattoo. They choose for u what they think u need. Honestly the tattoo I wanted and the place I wanted it was exactly what they did even tho I didn’t ask them.
Do your research for peace off mind but as I said I’ve had 4 tattoos and would advise to go to Wat Bang Phra early in the morning.
i had read the articles, did my homework , and was nervous, but finally big day came, the long traditional needle tattoo wasn't nearly as painful as i had expected, a bit irritating but over quickly, and my machine made tattoo by the famous monk in the articles... was more painful but it too was over quickly.. i have lifetime experience, and souvineer art that i can wear. The other people waiting for tattoos were helpful holding my skin tight, and making me feel good about the experience , i recommend!
