Temples to Visit

Phang Nga, has several temples worth visiting some of which are listed below . The most frequently visited is Wat Suwan Khuha which can be easily visited as part of a Phang Nga bay or Samet Nang Shee tour.

Wat Suwan Khuha

Known to locals as “Wat Tham” or “temple cave,” Wat Suwan Kuha is built into a limestone cliff face in the district of Takua Thung. There are numerous caves inside, the biggest of which is known as “Tham Yai” or “Big Cave” which also serves as the entrance to the temple. It is around 40 metres long and 25 metres wide. This cave houses the temple’s main tourist attraction: a golden reclining Buddha that is 15 metres long. There are also a number of smaller standing and sitting Buddhas inside.
The entrance to the cave is a large set of gates painted in bright colours illustrating Buddha and several other revered figures. Wat Suwan Khuha is just a short journey from Exotic Fishing Thailand just off of Route 4, trips can be arranged from the resort.

Wat Rat Uppatham

Another temple with more than one name, this one also known as Wat Bang Riang, located in the Thap Put district again just a short distance from Exotic Fishing Thailand. It contains a bell shaped pagoda known as Chedi Phutthathambanlue, overlooking the surrounding limestone cliffs and mountains. It also contains a statue of the Chinese goddess Guan-yin and of course a huge statue of Buddha that depicts him sitting under a seven-headed serpent. This temple is also the largest temple in the Phang Nga province so well worth a visit, especially given it’s close proximity to EFT.

Wat Tham Ta Pan

This temple is located in Phang Nga town itself so can easily be combined with a trip to the town. The temple is often called “the heaven and hell temple,” as inside it has pictures deemed to illustrate a Buddhist’s ideas of heaven and hell which is potentially a useful insight into understanding Bhuddist culture . The entrance boasts a lucky fountain with statues of five lucky monks. Each Monk holds out a bowl representing beauty, cleverness, happiness, health or wealth. According to the Bhuddist faith (in luck) , if you succeed in tossing a coin into a bowl you will get the associated attribute.
Also in the grounds of the temple there is an open-mouthed dragon that is in fact a tunnel leading into a cave that contains more Buddha statues which depicts heaven. The cave’s exit leads to an outdoor area filled with statues of sinners being tortured in hell. Making this a somewhat “adults only” exhibit!

Dragon Cave Temple (praya nakarach cave temple)

Dragon Cave Temple is located in a remote and mountainous part of Thap Put. According to local folklore, the cave has mystical healing powers, which makes it a place often visited by people with serious illnesses such as cancer. True to form the monks will prepare herbal teas that are said to lower a person’s blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and they will also demonstrate the Buddhist way of meditation including how to chant mantras.
The temple itself is highly decorated in keeping with Bhuddist Temples, it also has a lot of stairways and winding steps to explore with all kinds of carvings and statues to enjoy. If your a temple lover you might consider taking in Dragon Cave Temple, Wat Suwan Khuha, and Wat Rat Uppatham as a complete day out whilst taking lunch at one of any number of restaurants enroute between the temples.

Wat Kaew Manee Si Mahathat

Wat Manee Sri Mahathat is a relatively new temple built in the wake of the tsunami, and is a point of interest for that reason for some visitors to the province. It is sometimes referred to as “the temple of the black monk” due to it’s enormous black statue of the monk Por Than Klai who had died in 1970. This monk had been a favorite of the king Rama 9 and was believed to have prophetic abilities.
One of the buildings in the complex contains life-sized or nearly life-sized wax figures of famous monks, some of whom lived centuries ago. The building is air conditioned to protect the figures from melting! Located in the Ao Phang Nga National Park this temple can also be combined with other activities on an outing from EFT.
The temples listed above are too named but a small handful that are present in Phang Nga Province, but are perhaps those most visited by foriegn tourists, but if you wish to see more temples it can be arranged.