Temples Kanchanaburi

Wat Tham Kao Poon

No entrance fees to the caves, but visitors are encouraged to make a contribution to the maintenance of the monastery (B10-20). Hire a bicycle or tuk-tuk or charter a boat from in front of the town gates. Situated 5km southwest of town, this wat is a few kilometers on from the Chungkai Cemetery.

Wat Tham Kao Poon is a rather gaudy temple with caves attached. Follow the arrows through the cave system. There is a large Buddha image at the bottom of the system (and smaller ones elsewhere), as well as kutis (cells) in which monks can meditate. Intrepid explorers will find they emerge at the back of the hill. Early in 1996 this cave wat was the site of the murder of British tourist, Johanne Masheder (the cave where murder took place is permanently closed), by a drug-addicted Thai monk. The crime shook Thailand’s religious establishment and the abbot of the monastery was suspended for neglect.

Wat Tham Sua and Wat Tham Kao Noi

Hire a motorbike or charter a tuk-tuk/songthaew.

Wat Tham Sua and Wat Tham Kao Not lie 20km southeast of Kanchanaburi. The main temple is a strange, pagoda-like affair perched on a hilly outcrop, and can be seen from afar. At the base of the hill is a Chinese temple, and a short walk further is the steep dragon-line staircase that leads up the hill to the wat itself. The pagoda is a weird amalgam of Chinese and Thai, new and old.

Phu Phra Caves, Wat Tham Kun Phaen and Kanchanaburi Cultural Centre

Take bus 8203 or hire a motorbike or songthaew/tuk-tuk

Phu Phra Caves and Wat Tham Jun Phaen are about 20km north of town, just off Route 323 to Sangkhlaburi. The wat and its associated caves nestle in foothills which rise up towards Burma. Back on Route 323 is the Kanchanaburi Cultural Centre, with a collection of handicrafts, artifacts and historical exhibits.