A huge golden Buddha
About 18 m on the summit.
Charin ninsu — CC BY 3.0 · กสิณธร ราชโอรส — CC BY-SA 4.0 · กสิณธร ราชโอรส — CC BY-SA 4.0 · กสิณธร ราชโอรส — CC BY-SA 4.0
A hilltop temple south-east of town, visible from afar thanks to a huge golden seated Buddha about eighteen metres tall, beside a tall multi-tiered Chinese-style pagoda. From the top of the hill there are wide views over rice fields, the Mae Klong River and the nearby dam. The temple is reached by a long stairway guarded by dragon statues, by a small funicular car on an inclined track, or by car to a parking area near the summit. At the top, a small conveyor belt in front of the statue carries visitors' donations up to the Buddha's bowl. On the neighbouring hill stands another striking Chinese temple, Wat Tham Khao Noi. Entry is free and it opens in the daytime. Modest dress is required inside the halls, and shoes come off. A note: this is not the controversial «Tiger Temple», closed in 2016 over animal mistreatment; the names are similar and many confuse them. The best time to visit is just before sunset, when the golden statue glows.
About 18 m on the summit.
Rice fields and river.
An alternative to the stairs.
Tha Muang, about 20 km south-east of Kanchanaburi town
No. This temple never had tigers; the one known for tigers is elsewhere and closed in 2016. Wat Tham Suea is visited for its statue and view.