Temples, Caves and Chedis around Phang Nga Town

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The Chedi Khao Lang Bart is a National Monument above Phang Nga Town.

The observation point is small, merely a narrow walkway around the chedi itself. Ascending requires climbing 122 steep steps. From here you can see most of the city; the view is partially obscured by tree branches.
The signboard by the Fine Arts Department reads:
"The stupa was built of brick and mortar. It is small in size on a square base with redented corners, decorated with a lotus petal design at the base. The stupa itself is on top of a large limestone rock. The bell-shaped portion rises over a vertically diminishing base, with a spire on top. This national monument was originally built from late Ayutthaya to Bangkok period, 18th - 19th centuries."

The Chedi Khao Lang Bart is located on the western edge of the city, on a high point in Phang Nga Town.

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Wat Thamtapan, inside of the temple's cave has a small waterfall. You will see Dhamma Petchra ground, a three topped pagoda, a stalactite castle, a thousand year old stone stove and Buddha images that line the wall. The trail in this cave is approximately 400 m long.
At the entrance is a sculpture of a dragon and outside the monks residence is a sculptured impression of hell. Walking through the tunnel you will cross a bridge called "Dragon Bridge to Hell" continue for 100 m and go through the mouth of Tham Tapan. A monks residence is inside of the cave.
At a steep cliff covered in greenery there are many statues of the Hindu Pantheon, such as God Vishnu, Krishna and Sarasvati.
Impressive is also a set of statues depicting the birth of the historical Buddha Siddhartha Sakyamuni.
Wat Thamtapan is located in the west of Phang Nga Town along the Panorama Road Montri Road.

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The Chedi above Wat Thamtapan affords a panoramic view of Phang Nga Town and the limestone rocks in the environs. This extraordinary panorama shows that Phang Nga Town is located in one of the most beautiful locations of all provincial capitals of Thailand.
The 144 steps up to the chedi were for years the favourite toilet of the local monkeys. Therefore tourists rarely visited this exceptional viewpoint. It seems that most of the monkeys live somewhere else now so that the climb up to the chedi is really rewarding.

The chedi with its slender spire towers above Wat Thampapan in the west of Phang Nga Town.

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Tham Pung Chang is a large cave passing all the way through Khao Chang in the south of Phang Nga town.
There is a stream flowing in the middle of the cave with both shallow and deep areas. If desired, sightseers can wade through the stream, ride on a raft or paddle one of the available canoes. It takes about 1 hour to travel to the other end of the cave and visitors are advised to wear shorts and rubber sandals.
This area of Tham Peung Chang is one of two sanctuaries for Kitti bats which are the smallest bats in the world and were first found in 1973 in Thailand's Kanchanaburi Jungle.

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At the southern end of Phang Nga city a set of attractive limestone mountains catches the eye. There are several caves and small streams as well as a large flock of monkeys.
In the 162 rai of Srinakarin Park visitors can enjoy a relaxing place which is very suitable for children, too. In the sheer cliff mountains one can walk through from one side of the cave to the other, viewing the stalagmite and stalactite formations on the way. Near to this cave is a smaller cave named Tham Luk Sua (tiger's cub cave) which also has stalagmites and stalactites. Streams which include fresh water, brackish water, and salty water, run through the caves; the salt water comes from higher sea tides and is why a variety of sea animals live here.
A bridge has been constructed crossing the streams to connect the caves. There are also many monkeys that frequent the front of this cave. The park has spacious grounds with beautiful trees providing shade and many varieties of flowering plants. Golden Hopea trees and Theptaro trees, which are symbolic of the Phang Nga countryside can be seen here also.
For recreation there are also two climbing routes, a jogging path and a small food-stall market around lunch time.
Srinakarin Park is next to the junction of H415 leading to Thap Put and Krabi.

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Tham Russi or Tham Russi Sawan cave is cool inside, with stalagmites and stalactites and a clear stream running through.
You can walk through from the front to the back before continuing on to Tham Luk Suea, a small cave where there are some stalagmites and stalactites and a lot of monkeys living in the front.
Tham Russi is in front of Tham Luk Suea, are located inside the Srinakarin Park.

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The White Nun Simon Shrine sits on top of a road crossing a mountain. The amazing shrine contains the statue of a white woman who was a Buddhist nun. She is flanked by the statues of two young men who are obviously foreigners. We could not find out anything about the history of this woman.

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Tham Sam has old mural paintings, which are thought to have been painted at the beginning of the Rattanakosin era. The Fine Arts Department has registered the paintings to be genuine ancient remains.

The outer hall way is a long covered area with a smooth floor with light appearing to shine through it. The cave walls are irregular with paintings continuing along the wall for a distance of approximately 70 m.
The discovered paintings are historically typical of local handiwork and mostly depict beliefs in Buddhism, nature, and the way of living in those times.
In front of the cave is a stone carved Buddha Image. This is in a natural swamp area called Nongharn Samsam.

Tham Sam is located beside H3027 in Moo 2, Ban Fai Tha, Tham Nam Phut Sub-district to the northwest of Khao Thoi. On Rong Ruea Road it is 1.1 km to the east of the city center beside the beautiful lake.

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Tham Pha Peung is a cave temple by the side of a nice stream not far from the second byepass road of Phang Nga. You can see the large cave and several monks dwellings in the cliff side.

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Sa Nang Manora Forest Park covers a total area of 180 rai. It has a topography of limestone mountains running northeast to southwest and covered with rain forest.

There is an Oyster Shell Cave about 1,300 meters from the forestry park office. Inside the cave is an oyster grave yard. The Bat Dung Cave is about 2,300 meters from the park office. This cave is bigger than the Oyster Shell Cave and many bats live here. The paths to these caves are not too steep so it is easy to walk to them. Kaeo is a large cave which is 3 km from the park office and 1,500 meters from the Bat Dung Cave. Inside are beautiful glittering stalagmite and stalactite formations.

Sa Nang Manora Forest Park is situated inside the Khao Thoi Nang Hong National Forest Reserve area in Tambon Nop Pring.

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Phraya Nakarat Cave Temple, also called Wat Tham Khao Ngu, is a very attractive cave temple with a breathtaking scenery. Four religions are represented in this temple: Thai Buddhism, Chinese Buddhism, Hinduism and the ancient belief in spirits. You can admire highly venerated statues such as Phra Pikaneth, the elephant-headed deity, Shiva Nataraja, the dancing deity, and various forms of the historic Buddha. The main attraction is the tip of the tail of a huge snake (ngu) sticking out from the ground in a cave.

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The new view point at the top of the road of 100 bends is a welcome rest stop. There is a parking area and a shrine of a hermit.

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