In the heart of the Nakhon Pathom province, around 40 kilometers west of Bangkok, the impressive Wat Samphran temple stands 17 storeys tall - and it's guarded by a DRAGON.
The huge creature is wrapped around the pink cylindrical building, aptly nicknamed The Giant Dragon Temple, with its colourful scales and claws visible from all angles.
The head rests just over the roof, protecting the Buddhist temple and visitors there.
But the dragon actually serves another hidden purpose, and a functional one at that.
Inside, the beast is actually hollow and home to a large winding staircase which visitors can use to climb to the top of the building.
![[Image: 20170211-184019.jpg]](https://i.ibb.co/BzSJyPg/20170211-184019.jpg)
![[Image: tay-ninh-vietnam-asia-big-great-temple-r...BNMJBG.jpg]](https://i.ibb.co/B3RW8Wc/tay-ninh-vietnam-asia-big-great-temple-religion-dragon-kite-decorations-BNMJBG.jpg)
![[Image: istock-503361186-640x427.jpg]](https://i.ibb.co/5cvsVGK/istock-503361186-640x427.jpg)
![[Image: Alysha-Temple-Top-FTR.jpg]](https://i.ibb.co/cDGGfHp/Alysha-Temple-Top-FTR.jpg)
![[Image: IMG-3015.jpg]](https://i.ibb.co/HFBJCsq/IMG-3015.jpg)
![[Image: 0-PAY-In-the-grounds-of-the-Dragon-Templ...Temple.jpg]](https://i.ibb.co/71RZmvJ/0-PAY-In-the-grounds-of-the-Dragon-Temple-are-other-sacred-sites-including-a-Tortoise-Temple.jpg)
The huge creature is wrapped around the pink cylindrical building, aptly nicknamed The Giant Dragon Temple, with its colourful scales and claws visible from all angles.
The head rests just over the roof, protecting the Buddhist temple and visitors there.
But the dragon actually serves another hidden purpose, and a functional one at that.
Inside, the beast is actually hollow and home to a large winding staircase which visitors can use to climb to the top of the building.