I'm sure you've all seen this wat as you've driven through Tha Yang. The ubosot is gleaming white and sits half way up a limestone outcrop a few kilometers east of Petchaksem Highway. I never had much of a desire to visit the place but then I read that its museum had some interesting artifacts from nearby archeological sites. So, I decided to cycle up and see for myself.
In the distance is "Jurassic Mountain". Amazing that this road is so nicely paved with street lights yet.
I avoid cycling on the highways, so picked out a route in advance using Open Street Map's too map. It is much easier to see rural roads on this map than on anything Google has to offer. I only selected one unpaved road.
These are Asian Openbill Storks. They used to be kind of rare and skittish. Now they are very common and not at all afraid of humans. Their beaks are open in the middle to help them harvest and eat the snails that are their main food source.
Old farm carts at Wat Chai Na on the way.
This is the limestone outcrop to which I am headed.
There are both stairs and a steep driveway up to the ubosot. I pedaled. The ubosot was locked, as expected.
After viewing the ubosot I decided to look for the museum and find a path up to the chedi which is further up the hill. The only person I saw in the two hours I was at the wat was some guy washing his car. Of course, why else visit the wat on a Friday morning? Anyway he directed me to the stairway which leads to the chedi. I knew the numerous Macaques would steal anything I left behind, so I packed everything in to my bike bag. As I was leaving the car washing guy pointed to my water bottle which was still on my bike. I grabbed it and said "ลิงขโมย" (monkeys steal) over which we had a good laugh.
The steps up to the chedi are steep and long but well worth it. There are at least two caves along the way. This one was particularly nice.
Inside the cave are many Buddha images. I'm pretty sure they are not very old, but they were quite impressive given the setting.
Wat Khao Krachiu Temple
Re: Wat Khao Krachiu Temple
Nice, looks very tranquil. I love these hidden gems, far flung from the plastic SUV selfie crowds.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Wat Khao Krachiu Temple
Continued: A few more Buddha images from inside the cave.
This Buddha image is at the chedi which is quite a ways up the hill.
Nice forest along the way.
The museum I came to see was locked up tight with no indication when, if ever, it will be open. There was no one to ask. Aside from the guy washing his car, I saw no one. No monks. No visitors.
No idea what this is. My guess is Rattanakosin period, but that's a huge stretch. It has Garudas and a clock, so it's certainly not ancient.
Huge Chinese influence in this area. The wat grounds contain hundreds of burial stupas like this. Many are brightly painted, like this one.
Chinese style burial tomb. Also brightly painted. Note the image of Hotei (Budai or พระสังขจาย Pra Sangkachai) above the tomb.
Was it worth the 67K round trip? Yeah, the countryside in that part of the coastal plain is beautiful; full of banana and other fruit plantations, rice fields and lots of small dairy farms. The roads are good and there's almost no traffic. Makes you wonder why anyone would ever bother to cycle on the highway.
Nice forest along the way.
The museum I came to see was locked up tight with no indication when, if ever, it will be open. There was no one to ask. Aside from the guy washing his car, I saw no one. No monks. No visitors.
No idea what this is. My guess is Rattanakosin period, but that's a huge stretch. It has Garudas and a clock, so it's certainly not ancient.
Huge Chinese influence in this area. The wat grounds contain hundreds of burial stupas like this. Many are brightly painted, like this one.
Chinese style burial tomb. Also brightly painted. Note the image of Hotei (Budai or พระสังขจาย Pra Sangkachai) above the tomb.
Was it worth the 67K round trip? Yeah, the countryside in that part of the coastal plain is beautiful; full of banana and other fruit plantations, rice fields and lots of small dairy farms. The roads are good and there's almost no traffic. Makes you wonder why anyone would ever bother to cycle on the highway.
Re: Wat Khao Krachiu Temple
Very interesting. I must have seen just the other side, where the fishing park and resort is. I have friends who like to stay there. Assuming we are talking of the same place?
Talk is cheap
Re: Wat Khao Krachiu Temple
The Jurassic Mountain fishing resort is next to a different limestone outcrop. It was on my way to the Wat which is way up by Tha Yang, another 15K or so north.
Re: Wat Khao Krachiu Temple
- Screenshot 2020-07-31 06.44.36.jpg (31.97 KiB) Viewed 933 times