Set in extensive grounds beside the main road through town, Wat Sri Khom Kham is over 500 years old, though the current buildings are all quite recent.
The main attraction for Thai visitors here is the enormous seated Buddha image called Phra Jao Ton Luang that is 18 meters high and almost as wide. This gleaming gold image is thought to be the biggest Chiang Saen-era Buddha image in the country.
More striking for foreign visitors is the ‘Garden of Hell’ tucked away in one corner of the grounds. Many temples are adorned with murals depicting an imaginary Buddhist hell, but few have a sculpture garden as here, with figures impaled on cactus-like plants or boiling in a pot, and one poor fellow with his tongue hanging to his waist and maggots crawling from his eyes. It’s enough to make you behave well to avoid such an ugly fate.
Getting There
It’s about a 15-minute walk from the town center, or you could go by motorbike taxi or trishaw.
Need to Know
- What is it? An ancient temple with a precious Buddha image and striking images of Hell.
- Opening hours: 06:00-18:00
- Entrance fee: Free
- Address: Phaholyothin Road.
- Where: About 1km northwest of the town center.