Kanchanaburi - Wat Tham Khao Pun

Someone posting a recent travel thread reminded me of my last trip to Kanchanaburi in November 2022. This particular trip was different for me as a friend of mine who lives in San Luis, Batangas in the Philippines had come across with his Filipina wife and a friend of theirs. So instead of the 4 days/nights of drinking amidst commemoration events, an element of culture inclusion was required.

The ladies wanted to visit Wat Tham Khao Pum temple, which they'd read about. It's actually a cave temple, with the cave complex having 9 separate chambers, linked by steep steps carved into the rock, and crevice like gaps you have to squeeze through. Not for those with claustrophobia. Anyway, photos where I've hopefully captured some of the atmosphere of the place.

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The exit is different from the entrance, effectively the other side of a mountain, so we were in the cave for quite some time. Refreshments were needed, and fortunately there was a pleasant viewpoint with a cafe a short kilometre drive away. Place called "The Curve" which I recommend for both its menu and the view.

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You can see the railway next to the river, having come across the Bridge Over The River Kwai a few kilometres away.

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Looks great PAG; I will put that on my list and am surprised I have never found it before. The restaurant looks nice and it is always nice to add a good restaurant find to an excursion. Thanks for sharing!

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Originally Posted by Bonecollector

Looks great PAG; I will put that on my list and am surprised I have never found it before. The restaurant looks nice and it is always nice to add a good restaurant find to an excursion. Thanks for sharing!

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The restaurant locations:

Google Maps

Ta, here are a few places I have found further up stream if you enjoy this area and fish! I prefer the upstream area to be honest, a lot more chilled. Have you ever done the drive up to the Mon bridge?

Google Maps

Google Maps

Google Maps

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/bgzaEfyb2V8rxWhFA

https://goo.gl/maps/Bsnu3yt2kThU9Cso6

My wife's home province is Kanchanaburi and it indeed beautiful with verdant forests, great rivers and lakes. We are up there quite often. But from about now until the first of June or so we normally try to avoid it as it is simply to damn hot. Hot, hot, hot, something even the wife will concede. Not much to be done after 10am till the sun goes down because of the heat. We go up this Sunday for Qingming day when the Chinese clean the graves of their ancestors. In my wife's
case the tombs of her mom and dad. It will be hot as hell but this is something that for her family must be done.

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Originally Posted by aging one

My wife's home province is Kanchanaburi and it indeed beautiful with verdant forests, great rivers and lakes. We are up there quite often. But from about now until the first of June or so we normally try to avoid it as it is simply to damn hot. Hot, hot, hot, something even the wife will concede. Not much to be done after 10am till the sun goes down because of the heat. We go up this Sunday for Qingming day when the Chinese clean the graves of their ancestors. In my wife's
case the tombs of her mom and dad. It will be hot as hell but this is something that for her family must be done.

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It is ridiculously hot along the Tenasserim Hills from Ratchaburi up to Tak, hottest places/ area in Thailand every year. I was thinking of going hiking this weekend in Suan Phueng but it will be 46c real feel!

Khao Laem - Google Maps great place to hike!

Google Maps nice waterfall for after! we went here during covid and had the whole place to ourselves.

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Originally Posted by Bonecollector

Ta, here are a few places I have found further up stream if you enjoy this area and fish! I prefer the upstream area to be honest, a lot more chilled. Have you ever done the drive up to the Mon bridge?

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I'm only ever up there for a few days each year, and tend to have other commitments that keep me in the Muang area and surrounds. Hellfire Pass is the furthest away from Muang that I've been.

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Originally Posted by PAG

I'm only ever up there for a few days each year, and tend to have other commitments that keep me in the Muang area and surrounds. Hellfire Pass is the furthest away from Muang that I've been.

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and what an amazing place that is, been many times! If you have time, you must take the road up to the Mon Bridge. You can park in the village, walk through the market over the bridge, take lunch and then rent a boat to take you around the temples. Some are sunken and some are not but it can depend on the time of the year. A really great day out and there is a national park a long the way as well.

I have tried to add some pics but there is something wrong with the site.

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@PAG - thnx for the pics & stories. I had to Google where San Luis, Batangas was, even if it's in my neighbouring province! :D Turns out that I haven't been there or passed by that town, since it's not along the main highway and it's a bit in the boondocks. That area is still very provincial. I have some colleagues (present & former) who came from the neighbouring towns and they went to Manila/ near Manila for studies & work opportunities. Such is life in rural areas.

The bridge over the river Kwai, the death railway, etc - placed in the bucket list if ever I visit TH again.