Phang Nga

Wat Narayanikaram (วัดนารายณิการาม) is located at Mu 3 Tambon Le, approximately 14 kilometres from Kapong District Office on Highway No. 401 (the Takua Pa – Surat Thani route), with a right turn of 2 kilometres to the temple. This is where replicas of Narayana (Rama) and Lakshamana, as well as the original Sida (Sita – consort of Rama) images are enshrined. The original Rama and Lakshamana images are now exhibited at the Thalang National Museum, Amphoe Thalang, Phuket. In addition, an inscription stone of 1,300 – 1,400 years old was unearthed on top of Khao Riang inside the temple’s precincts. These sculptures are related to the historical background of “Takola” (former name of Takua Pa) and the introduction of Indian culture into this region.

There are also other waterfalls in the district where local people usually pay a visit for relaxation including Namtok Saeng Thong (น้ำตกแสงทอง), which is a small waterfall, and Namtok Hin Lat or Namtok Laeng Hin (น้ำตกหินลาดหรือน้ำตกแล่งหิน), a rocky waterfall with a clear stream.

Wat Rat Uppatham or Wat Bang Riang

Situated on Khao Lan hill in Tambon Bang Riang, 11 kilometres from the Thap Put District office on Phetkasem Road, this temple contains several structures including an elaborate bell-shaped pagoda called Chedi Phutthathambanlue. The hilltop pagoda overlooks surrounding undulating mountains and hills as well as a huge Buddha image and a Guan-yin Chinese Goddess statue.

Wat Suwannakhuha (วัดสุวรรณคูหา) is located at Mu 2 Tambon Krasom, about 9 kilometres from Phang-nga provincial town on Highway No. 4 (the Phang-nga – Phuket route). At Km. 30, there is a paved road on the right leading for 1 kilometre to the temple. Wat Suwannakhuha is known locally as “Wat Tham” – a cave temple. It is one of the province’s important temples due to its historical and archaeological background. The temple is located on a mountain with a number of caves. Among them are Tham Yai, Tham Chaeng, Tham Muet, and Tham Kaeo. Tham Yai is on the lowest level and decorated with ceramic tiles and crockery throughout its length. This cave serves as a wihan where several Buddha images are enshrined. The most important one is the Reclining Buddha. In another cave, there are royal initials of kings and members of the royal family, such as King Rama V the Great, King Rama VII and Queen Rambhaibarni, King Rama IX the Great, etc. The area in front of the cave is the feeding ground of a large number of monkeys. Admission is 10 Baht.

Fortress Wall (กำแพงค่าย) was built by Phraya Senanuchit (Nut), a former governor of Takua Pa, to enclose his residence. It was a model of a fortress wall built from a mixture of gravel, sand, and cement, measuring 58.5 cetimetres thick and 3.8 metres high, not a conventional brick and cement wall. Its shape is rectangular, measuring 95 metres wide and 158 metres long. It was told that when there was a fight between two Chinese Ang Yi or rackets in Takua Pa in 1881, the people came to seek shelter from the fighting inside this fortress wall. The defeated group also took shelter here. Phraya Senanuchit instructed the gates of the fortress to be closed and he himself, armed with swords, took command of the defensive fight on the battlement at the front of the fortress. Unfortunately, the southern part of the wall on Udom Thara Road has been demolished for a distance of 20 metres in order to widen the road. The wall is now the property of the Na Nakhon Family.