Columns of light
Through the roof in the morning.
Zinneke — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Manoonp — CC BY-SA 4.0 · BerryJ — CC BY-SA 4.0 · กสิณธร ราชโอรส — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Zinneke — CC BY-SA 3.0
A vast cave in a limestone hill north of Phetchaburi, a temple for centuries, visited by Thailand's kings since the time of Rama IV and still a place of worship. A stone stair leads down into a huge underground hall lined with dozens of golden Buddha images, among them a large reclining Buddha, with a small stupa at its centre. Its glory is the openings in the cave roof, through which morning sunbeams fall like columns of light onto the statues and stupa, making it one of Thailand's most photogenic caves. Limestone stalactites and stalagmites fill the walls, and it is cooler inside than out. Entry is free and donations are welcome. Modest dress is expected: shoulders and knees covered. Shoes come off in some chambers. Monkeys crowd the approach, so carry no visible food. The steps are sometimes damp, so take care. The best time is roughly nine to eleven in the morning, when sunlight streams through the roof. Pair it with Phra Nakhon Khiri in one morning.
Through the roof in the morning.
And a reclining Buddha.
Visited by Thai kings.
About 5 km north of Phetchaburi town
In the morning, roughly between nine and eleven, on clear days.