Phangan Chinese temple - temple complex with a bunch of gods
Among themselves, Copangan call it the Chinese Temple, on Google maps it also appears as Chinese Temple, but there is one local feature of this temple complex and it is as follows: Thais love to collect all the gods in a heap. Of course, there are purely Buddhist, purely Chinese and purely all sorts of other Christian or Muslim temples, without an admixture of extraneous religion. But still, in Thailand you can often find holy places where Chinese, Hindu and Buddhist deities coexist on the same territory, but in different sanctuaries and the Chinese temple on Phangan is just such a place.
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Phangan Chinese Temple
The temple complex is located on the road between Chaloklam and Tong Sala. True, I'm not entirely sure that such a definition fits one hundred percent, but it's just not some separate small temple with a crematorium, but a relatively large territory on the hills, and about a dozen different buildings. Each sanctuary is dedicated to a specific deity or carries some of its own special religious meaning and purpose. There is a sanctuary of the Chinese goddess Guan Yin, there is a many-armed Shiva, there is a warrior god Guan Di, Hottei, Buddha, Thai ascetics ryy-si, companions of all these gods and just magical creatures such as three-legged toads, dancing peregrine falcons and dragons.
You don't immediately notice the scale of the complex, because at first all attention is drawn to the large temple near the parking lot. But only then, after passing through this temple, all the charm of the sights gradually opens, as you go deeper into the multi-tiered buildings with stairs, railings, fountains and ponds, and most importantly, all this is located in a magnificent place with a stunning view of the valley between the ridges of the hills. On the horizon you can see the azure sea in the area of Chaloklum beach, a sapphire-colored sky, and at the edges it is framed in the emerald jungle - an incredibly beautiful picture for which it is worth turning off the main road and taking a walk around the temple for half an hour with a camera.
You can't tell from my pictures, I just had no luck with the weather, so do not repeat my mistakes and do not go to Koh Phangan in January - this is the very end of the monsoon season in Surat Thani province. Good weather sets in relatively stable at the end of January. Overall, a very pleasant and uncrowded place. During my visit, there were all a couple of people besides me.
Entrance to the Chinese temple from the highway
Phangan Chinese Temple
There is a waterfall at the very end of the territory
Information to visit
Paid entrance - 40 baht.
The equipment can be left under the covered parking, where the unsmiling aunt is collecting funds. All other premises are open for access and do not require money, with the exception of type-boxes, where you can throw a coin or a bill according to your mood. On big religious holidays it is problematic with parking and it is quite crowded, which is understandable - after all, this is a temple of many deities, and Thais respect all gods and do not deny themselves the pleasure of taking a walk at every holiday.
On the map
Chinese Temple
Chinese Temple
A modern temple on the mountain, in the Chinese style, with a statue of the goddess Kuan Yin and a laughing Buddha. There is a beautiful garden around the temple, and a beautiful view opens from the observation deck. Nice quiet place to walk.
More about the temple.
A modern temple on the mountain, in the Chinese style, with a statue of the goddess Kuan Yin and a laughing Buddha. There is a beautiful garden around the temple, and a beautiful view opens from the observation deck. Nice quiet place to walk. More about the temple.