This temple, 28 kilometers from Lopburi in the Khok Samrong district, is visible from afar. Its large, golden Buddha statue stands majestically against the mountainside. On my last visit in November 2019, the statue was still inaccessible because the staircase leading up to it was not yet finished. However, according to a monk at the temple, this should be completed by the end of January 2020. Visitors primarily come to Wat Khao Wong Prachan to climb the mountain and reach the part of the temple located at the very top, after ascending 3,790 steps along a nearly 1.7-kilometer-long path. It took me an hour and a half to reach the summit. Along the way, there are small shops selling refreshments (the higher you climb, the more expensive they become), and signs point them out every 500 steps. Much of the trail is shaded, and the steps aren't very steep (much less than those at the Tiger Cave Temple in Krabi, if anyone's been there), but the climb is strenuous if you're not used to it. At the summit, 650 meters above sea level, there's a magnificent view over the valley and the large Buddha. There's also a Chinese shrine, a small cave, and more Buddha statues. The temple houses nine "miracle" objects, including a genuine Buddha print, a Buddha tooth, and other relics. These are presumably the main reason locals climb the mountain. There's a stall selling drinks, cakes, and instant noodles for a quick snack. I started at 3:30 p.m. for sunset. If you're doing the hike at the same time, be sure to bring a flashlight, because if there's any lighting along the way, it wasn't working when I descended. The descent took 50 minutes. You should be able to make much better time during the day.

There is no public transport from Lopburi to Wat Khao Wong Prachan. The nearest train station is in Nong Tao, but I'm not sure if you'll be able to find a tuk-tuk or songthaew there to take you to the temple. It's best to travel with your own transport.

Wat Khao Wong Phrachan is a temple, and when visiting a temple in Thailand there are some rules to follow: appropriate clothing (knees and shoulders should be covered), take off your shoes when entering the building, be quiet, do not hug or kiss, do not point your feet at the Buddha statue, do not smoke.

How to get there

How do I get to Wat Khao Wong Phrachan? There is no public transport from Lopburi to Wat Khao Wong Phrachan. The nearest train station is Nong Tao, but I'm not sure if you can find a tuk-tuk or songthaew to the temple from there. It's best to travel by car.