History

Dating from 1971, when a monk named Pasarigo used the hilltop caves for meditation, Wat Tham Sua (“Tiger Cave Temple”) has the feel of a tourist attraction but its caves are now closed to the public.

What to see

Visible from far away, the temple features an impressive Buddha statue and chedi on the top of a hill. The Buddha statue, seated in the posture of giving blessings, is covered with gold mosaic and protected by an unusual shell-like structure.

The huge chedi, 69 meters high and 29 meters wide, is hollow. A staircase inside the building leads up to the top.

Each level has rows of Buddha statues and multiple windows from which photos can be taken of the statue below set against a backdrop of rice paddies and mountains.

There are also footprints of the Buddha and an ancient pond on the hill. Behind the chedi is the Chinese pagoda of the adjacent Wat Tham Khao Noi.