The Phra That Bo Ong Chedi, also known as Chedi Phra That Bo Ong, is a small pagoda located in the Pilok subdistrict of the Thong Pha Phum district in Kanchanaburi province, Thailand. Nestled atop a small limestone hill and surrounded by a charming lily pond, this Mon-style religious structure rises majestically to an estimated height of 6 meters and has a base measuring approximately 3 x 3 meters. Wat Phra That Bo Ong Chedi is considered one of the oldest temples in the region and holds a central place in the lives of the Karen and Mon people who inhabit the village of Bo Ong. The village, and therefore the temple, lies on the shore of the lake dammed by the Vajiralongkorn Dam (or Khao Laem Dam) and is accessible only by boat. Surrounded by a large, lotus-strewn pond inhabited by various waterfowl, including a colony of blue moorhens, the Phra That Bo Ong Chedi offers a peaceful and enchanting sanctuary. A bridge and subsequent staircase lead to the chedi, which houses sacred relics. There is no precise information about when the temple was built, which adds to the legend surrounding this place. The history and beliefs surrounding this sacred site contribute to its mystical aura. Legend has it that in ancient times, Buddha visited Phra That Bo Ong. A giant saw him and wanted to eat Buddha. Buddha said to the giant, "If you want to eat, first find a place to sit and listen to the sermon." The giant then fetched a large stone and sat upon it while Buddha preached. As a result, the area around the relics was transformed into a swamp by the giant's footprints. After the giant heard the sermon, his fangs broke, and he fled. It is also said that one day a woman crossing the bridge to the mountaintop gradually dried up the pond, whereupon the villagers forbade women from crossing the bridge or entering the pond. When I asked one of the temple's seven monks why women were forbidden, he explained that if a woman stepped onto the bridge, lightning would immediately strike from the sky and all the water would dry up. It is a somewhat remote place, rarely visited by foreigners. And although women can only admire the rock and its chedi from the shore of the pond, in the middle of which they lie, I believe this little excursion is worthwhile for them too (despite the disappointment of not being allowed to enter the pond and the small island). In any case, you'll be hard-pressed to find anything more secluded in Kanchanaburi!

Entry is free. The price for a round-trip boat trip depends on the departure point, but is approximately 1,000–1,500 THB per boat. Every year, at the full moon of the fourth lunar month, Buddhist worshippers gather to venerate Phra That Bo Ong Chedi, continuing a centuries-old tradition and strengthening their spiritual connection to this sacred site.

There are several ways to get from Kanchanaburi to the Phra That Bo Ong Pagoda. All begin with a drive to a point on the shore of Vajiralongkorn Lake (also known as Khao Laem Lake). From there, you can take a boat to the village of Bo Ong, which is only accessible by boat. To optimize travel time (2 hours by car and 1 hour by boat), I rented a longtail boat from one of the floating houses just below the Vajiralongkorn Dam during my visit. To discover this somewhat hidden chedi, you need to be taken to the lakeshore and have someone with you who speaks Thai to book the boat (and pay the 50% deposit via a banking app). I won't go into further detail about how to get to the Phra That Bo Ong Chedi here, in order to preserve the mystery of this lesser-known destination. However, those who are truly motivated have enough information to find their way there. Please note that there is a host family in the village of Bo Ong, but in my opinion it is nicer to stay in one of the floating houses on the lake (which are often fully booked on weekends, but have almost no guests during the week).

Phra That Bo Ong Chedi is a temple. When visiting a temple in Thailand, there are some rules to observe: appropriate clothing (knees and shoulders should be covered), remove shoes upon entering the building, be quiet, no hugging or kissing, do not point your feet at the Buddha statue, and do not smoke.

How to get there

How do you get to Phra That Bo Ong Chedi? There are several ways to get to the pagoda from Kanchanaburi. All of them begin with a drive to a point on the shore of Vajiralongkorn Lake (also known as Khao Laem Lake). From there, you can take a boat to the village of Bo Ong, which is only accessible by boat. To optimize travel time (2 hours by car and 1 hour by boat), I rented a longtail boat from one of the floating houses just below the Vajiralongkorn Dam during my visit. To discover this somewhat hidden chedi, you need to be taken to the lakeshore and have someone with you who speaks Thai and can help you book the boat (and pay the 50% deposit via a banking app). I don't want to reveal too much about how to get to Phra That Bo Ong Chedi here, in order to preserve the mystery of this destination. However, those who are truly motivated have enough information to find their way there. Please note that there is a host family in the village of Bo Ong, but in my opinion it is nicer to stay in one of the floating houses on the lake (which are often fully booked on weekends, but have almost no guests during the week).