Wat Khanon - Home of Nang Yai - Thai Shadow Puppets

​Thai Culture is rich in art, music and dance and Nang Yai (which means Grand Shadow Play) combines the three in a sophisticated performance.  Nang Yai uses leather, cut into intricate patterns representing traditional characters.  These characters come to life when they are used to tell lovely stories on backlit stages supported by music performed on traditional Thai instruments.  

The Temple of Wat Khanon is home to the Nang Yai Museum, a thai primary school and a Nang Yai theater.  Students at the school are taught how to make the puppets and perform in the shows.  The museum preserves approximately 330 puppets that are over 100 years old as well as newly created puppets.  The theater offers a free showing of Nang Yai at 10 am every saturday.  Wat Khanon is a World Heritage Site due to the preservation of the Nang Yai art. 

Wat Khanon, built in the late 1700's,  is located in Ratchaburi Province along the Mae Klong River, approximately 100 kilometer drive due west of Bangkok. 

Nang Yai Theater

Nang Yai Museum