This temple is a popular pilgrimage site for Thai Buddhists and is often crowded with visitors making offerings.
Its main features are a chedi that is supposedly a copy of the Shwedagon in Burma, and some intricately carved door and window panels on the ubosot depicting scenes from the life of the Buddha.
The chedi is quite impressive, though only 23 meters high; apparently it contains a frontal bone and four hairs of the Buddha. It is surrounded by 16 smaller chedi and 12 large mondop, in which are stored images of the Buddha, and 6 small mondop, in which candles are stored. The forest of spires created by these structures makes for a dramatic sight, and there’s a carpet surrounding the structure for devotees to walk barefoot round the chedi.
Though the temple is interesting both for its architecture and the crowds who come here to make offerings, the place is a bit tricky to find, being a few kilometers outside Ban Tak. Thus it’s really only worthwhile making your way here if you plan to visit the nearby Bhumibol Dam.
Getting There
There’s no public transport to this remote place, so the only way to go is by rented vehicle. Head north from Tak to Ban Tak (Highway 1107 is a more attractive route than Highway 1 with some good river views and small villages on the riverbank), then a few kilometers after Ban Tak, look for a signposted turning on the left off of H1107, where you’ll find the temple on top of a low hill.
Need to Know
- What is it? An important site for Buddhist pilgrims.
- When to go: During the time of the bi-annual homage-paying ceremony (see trivia), the place is packed with worshippers.
- Where/Nearest Town: Ban Tak is a few kilometers south of the temple.
- Trivia: There are two homage-paying ceremonies each year - one at Songkran (mid-April) and the other in May or June; contact the TAT for more details.
- Address: About 3km north of Ban Tak, to the west of H1107.
- Opening hours: 06:00-18:00
- Entrance fee: Free