Thailand has no shortage of beautiful temples dotted along the country, but arguably one of the most mystical of them all is the temple situated in the Phraya Nankon Cave. An absolute natural marvel, there are two caves situated at the end of a 450metre hike. Although this doesn’t sound very far in distance, the steep incline of the path will prove challenging. After much upward trekking, you will come across the first cave, with stairs descending into its glory. The first cave is beautiful, with majestic rock face looming down around you as you climb down the stairs. But it’s past the first cave into the second where you will find the true wonder you have come to look for. After crossing a dark bridge, a beautiful temple basking in the rays of sun will take your breath away. This cylindrical cave has no roof structure, and the sunlight shines into the natural wonder – and illuminates the temple situated in the middle of the cave with an eerily beautiful ethereal glow. Surrounding the temple is a lush offering of vegetation and plants, giving the entire setting a “Jurassic Park” feel. It’s best to visit the temple mid-morning when the sunlight shines directly onto the temple throne. Folklore surrounding the temple dates back throughout history. The cave was found by Chao Praya Nakhon Sri Thammarat who was searching for shelter during a storm. The actual temple was built at the end of the 19th century and since has seen many Thai Kings visit the site to view its grandeur. The cave was naturally formed through erosion from the underground water over many years. This is a must-see for every traveller in the area, and offers a very different temple experience to anywhere else in Thailand. How to get there:
Located in the Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, the Phraya Nankon Cave is situated within the beautiful Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park. You can get to the national park by car, which is a 45min trip from Hua Hin to the village of Bang Pu. Once you are in the national park, you can choose to hike to Laem Sala beach, where the cave is located. Alternatively you can rent a boat to get to the beach, which is recommended as the hike to the cave itself is already strenuous.
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July 2017
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