Wat Suwanna Kuha
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Wat Suwanna Kuha |
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Wat Suwanna Kuha / Golden Cave Some kilometers outside Phangnga town (coming from Phuket) a Buddhist temple within a cave is situated: Wat Suwanna Kuha. The parking area is dominated by families of monkeys. They are waiting for you wanting to be fed with bananas. It is a great fun to watch these animals catching a flying banana while seated in a tree. The entrance to the temple is allowed to all farangs (small entrance fee). Buddhist religion is a tolerant one and does not refuse any visitor. Inside the cave a large golden Buddha figure impresses. |
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Keep aside and watch the local people praying and being blessed by a monk. Don't be shy: The monk will bless you too if you like. Go around slowly and quietly and admire the big cave in the background. Please keep in mind: This location is a place of adoration by local people and not a market place. Please respect behavior of Thai people. |
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Tham Pung Chang / Elephant Stomach Cave Proceed to Phangnga town now, keep on mainroad (H 4) until you see the signpost "Elephant Stomach Cave / Tham Pung Chang" on the left hand side. |
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Drive in. There are lots of parking spaces. Before buying your tickets (500 Baht each!) you should ask for a guide especially for your party. In other case you would be joined to any other group of farangs. We preferred to have our own guide. For admiring the miracles inside the cave a group of noising farangs is neither convenient nor helpful. Before entering the cave change your clothes. You will become wet inside. Sometimes you must follow a creek by walking, sometimes by using bamboo rafts. There is no electric illumination in the cave. Only the miner's lamp in front of your forehead, the other ones of your party and your guide's lamps light up the darkness. On the other hand you experience the cave like the discoverers some years ago did. Don't be afraid. |
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It is not possible to take photographs inside the cave with standard touristic equipment. Flash light is not sufficient in the total darkness. We show some pictures scanned from postcards. Nevertheless they give a better impression of Pung Chang Cave's highlights as words could do. |
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Wat Bang Riang It is now possible to visit Wat Bang Riang at the same day. The access road (H 4118 from Thap Put) has been upgraded to an asphalt road. You have the choice of two ways to reach Thap Put: 1.) After leaving the parking area turn left onto H 4 and follow it until Thap Put. This section of H 4 is a narrow road with a lot of curves. You must take your time for driving, but you have time enough for enjoying the great tropical landscape. 2.) After leaving the parking area turn right onto H 4 and follow it until intersection H 415. Take direction Krabi there and proceed until Thap Put. This section is a very busy one and you have to drive attentively. At Thap Put follow H 4 direction Krabi for some hundred meters, then turn left onto H 4118 and follow it until the monastery. You may drive slowly while passing a great landscape with palm and rubber trees and a variety of other tropical plants. The monastery's terraces offer great views over the country and the figures of Buddha and the Chinese goddess Kuan Yin. |
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Enjoy the silence of this location. It could be a good idea to bring along your own food and drinks. The monks do not run any shop or restaurant. |
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