If you have time, be sure to visit the small Wat Tham Pha Plong temple located on a mountain in the jungle, very close to Chiang Dao caves. Follow the link post with all the information for visiting these places, read. It is advisable to look at the temple in the morning, it is especially good there: there is no one, the forest is about to wake up, coolness and freshness. True, if you go there in the morning, then you will have to spend the night in Chiang Dao in some guesthouse. Although «have to» it is said loudly, as part of a trip to the north of Thailand, it is even convenient. I just spent the night in Chiang Dao.
Wat tham pha plong
Personally, I didn't even like the temple itself and the view from it, but the way to it. You go up the stairs, and you are surrounded by a refined jungle. And the silence is such that it bewitches ... Only the birds are singing. By the way, ornithologists come here for them, I saw one on the way, how a crazy professor was running around with a dictaphone and a DSLR with a telephoto camera.
A beautiful alley leads to the temple
Parking in front of the temple
The beginning of the uphill climb
Motivating signs
On the way, rocks and jungle
Actually, the temple itself Wat Tham Pha Plong
A gazebo for rest on the way
Smiling frogs at visitors
The feeling that I was in some kind of reserved and lost corner. I do not argue, maybe this is just my impression, and the temple is quite ordinary, but I am writing it as it is. For some reason, I also remembered how long I worked in the office and drove through Moscow traffic jams to work. But this is not to say that it was bad, but to the fact that in this bustle you forget to live and pay attention to ordinary things, you do not appreciate the current moment. It would seem that Thailand, summer, everything is fine, that is, there are so many reasons for happiness, but you concentrate on completely different things. Seemingly familiar truths, but all the same, many times I catch myself on this.
The upper platform with a stupa offers a view of the nearby mountains. There are even better views, but it's very good to sit and think there, the atmosphere is good ...
Wat tham pha plong
From a height you can see the mountains around
The platform at the very top
Around only mountains and fog
The temple is located inside the rock and covered with an artificial roof
It probably rains here a lot
On the map
Guided by the mark on the map, you can easily find this temple. You need to go to the end along the road, without turning anywhere and you will run into the parking lot. From the parking lot, the temple is not visible, and there are no signs either, but in principle it will be clear that this is it.
Chiang Dao area
Chiang Dao area:
