Wat Tham Klong Phen

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 07.00 – 17.00

 

Wat Tham Klong Phen in Nong Bua Lam Phu is one of the province’s most respected forest temples and spiritual landmarks. Located in Non Than Subdistrict, Mueang Nong Bua Lam Phu District, at the foot of the Phu Phan mountain range, the temple is known for its natural cave hall, large rock formations, forest setting, ancient double-sided drum, Buddha images among the rocks, and memorial areas dedicated to Luang Pu Khao Analayo. For Thai Buddhists, the temple is strongly associated with the Thai forest meditation tradition and the lineage of Luang Pu Mun Bhuridatta. For travelers, it offers a rare combination of Buddhist devotion, forest calm, sacred caves, natural stone gardens, and the living memory of one of Thailand’s revered meditation masters.

 

The importance of Wat Tham Klong Phen begins with its layered history. The temple is believed to be an old religious site, although no clear evidence confirms the exact year of its original foundation. It later became deserted, with no resident monks or novices living there for a period of time. In 1958, Luang Pu Khao Analayo, a respected forest meditation monk in the lineage of Luang Pu Mun, came to stay at the temple and used it as a place for vipassana meditation. His presence revived the deserted site and transformed Wat Tham Klong Phen into one of Nong Bua Lam Phu’s most important forest meditation temples.

 

The temple landscape is very different from a typical town temple. It is built around large natural boulders, caves, rock shelters, forest paths, and quiet open areas. Several massive stones form cavities, overhangs, and shaded spaces that were adapted for religious use. A roof structure was later added to connect parts of the natural rock formation, creating a large hall that can accommodate hundreds of people. This hall functions as the main cave ordination hall and spiritual center of the temple. The result is a sacred space where natural geology and Buddhist practice merge in a way that feels both ancient and alive.

 

The name Wat Tham Klong Phen is connected with the cave and an ancient double-sided drum locally called “klong phen”. This drum is enshrined in the cave hall and helps explain the origin of the temple’s name. When visitors enter the main hall, they can see the drum, Buddha images, and the statue of Luang Pu Khao within the same natural stone setting. The combination of cave, rock, drum, Buddha images, and forest atmosphere gives the temple its distinctive identity. It is not merely a temple with a cave; it is a forest monastery whose sacred meaning is inseparable from the landscape itself.

 

Inside the main hall, a statue of Luang Pu Khao Analayo is enshrined for public worship. Several important Buddha images are also placed among the rock formations and cave spaces, including a meditation posture Buddha image, a reclining Buddha image, and Phra Phuttha Panthara Nimit, a walking Buddha image carved into a rock surface. These images are especially meaningful because they are not displayed in a conventional chapel. They appear within natural stone settings, creating an atmosphere of stillness, strength, and spiritual grounding. Visitors can feel how Buddhist imagery and the natural world support one another within a forest monastery.

 

At the front area of the temple, a large image of Phra Sangkachai is also enshrined. This image is commonly associated in Thai Buddhist culture with abundance, kindness, and joyful blessings. Its presence near the entrance gives visitors a welcoming point of worship before they continue deeper into the cave hall, memorial areas, and forest paths. The temple experience therefore moves gradually from an accessible worship area into quieter and more contemplative spaces connected with Luang Pu Khao.

 

Luang Pu Khao Analayo is the central figure in the modern history of Wat Tham Klong Phen. He was a forest meditation monk in the lineage of Luang Pu Mun Bhuridatta and was known for strict practice, simplicity, solitude, and deep commitment to meditation. When he arrived at Wat Tham Klong Phen in 1958, he used the cave and forest environment as a place for inner practice. His presence brought the temple back to spiritual life and attracted disciples, monks, and laypeople who respected his conduct. Over time, the temple became a center of faith for those who followed the Thai forest tradition.

 

Luang Pu Khao continued to live and practice at Wat Tham Klong Phen until his passing in 1983. Because of this long association, the temple is now inseparable from his life and legacy. The cave hall, kuti, walking paths, stone garden, relic museum, wax figure museum, pagoda, and memorial pavilion all preserve aspects of his presence. Visitors do not come here only to see architecture or natural scenery. Many come to pay respect to a teacher whose life embodied the values of the forest monk tradition: contentment, discipline, meditation, and direct experience of the Dhamma.

 

The atmosphere of the temple is one of its greatest strengths. The grounds are spacious, shaded, and quiet, with trees, green forest areas, unusual rock formations, and paved internal roads that wind through the landscape for about 2 km. Moving through the temple feels like entering a spiritual forest route. The visitor gradually leaves the noise of the outside world and passes through rocks, trees, shrines, and memorial spaces. This slow movement is part of the experience. Wat Tham Klong Phen is best appreciated with time and attention rather than as a quick photo stop.

 

One of the key areas inside the temple is the Luang Pu Khao Analayo Monastic Relics Museum. The museum was created to preserve his relics and monastic requisites for devotees to pay respect and learn from his life. The objects displayed in the museum include items connected with the simple life of a forest monk, such as robes, alms bowl, umbrella tent, personal belongings, photographs, and other items associated with his practice. These objects matter because they reveal the practical side of the forest tradition. They show that spiritual greatness is not expressed through luxury, but through discipline, restraint, and sincere practice.

 

The relic museum is also important as a historical and devotional space. It allows later generations to understand Luang Pu Khao not only through stories, but through physical evidence of his life. Visitors can see the objects used by a revered meditation master and understand the simplicity of his daily routine. For Thai devotees, these objects are not ordinary museum items. They are reminders of a teacher’s conduct and the Dhamma he embodied. For foreign visitors, the museum provides a clear introduction to the Thai forest monastic culture.

 

Another major point of interest is the wax figure museum of Luang Pu Khao Analayo. The building was designed in a form resembling three natural rocks placed together, matching the rocky landscape of Wat Tham Klong Phen. Flower gardens, lawns, and greenery around the building help the museum blend with the temple environment. Inside, a lifelike wax figure of Luang Pu Khao is enshrined in a seated posture. Nearby, monastic requisites and related objects are also displayed. This museum allows visitors to pay respect and learn about the revered monk in a quiet, intimate setting.

 

The wax figure has strong emotional meaning for disciples and visitors. It preserves the image of Luang Pu Khao for those who never met him during his lifetime. The calm posture, robe, facial expression, and simple presence of the figure convey the character of a forest meditation monk. The purpose is not entertainment or spectacle. Instead, the wax figure helps visitors recollect the virtues of the teacher and reflect on the meaning of a life dedicated to the Dhamma. Many people bow quietly before the figure, offer flowers, or simply sit for a moment in silence.

 

The Luang Pu Khao pagoda is another important sacred site within the temple. It was built to enshrine the relics of Luang Pu Khao and stands on a rock terrace reached by a stairway. Visitors often walk up to the pagoda to pay respect after visiting the museum and cave hall. The walk itself has a contemplative quality. As visitors climb slowly through the temple landscape, they pass from public worship areas toward a more elevated memorial space. The pagoda allows devotees to remember Luang Pu Khao with gratitude and to connect his teaching with the peaceful environment of the forest temple.

 

The pavilion of Luang Pu Khao is also significant. It is a four-sided pavilion that Luang Pu Khao built during his lifetime for monastic ceremonies. The area around the pavilion is quiet and shaded, making it suitable for rest and reflection. Together with the old kuti, the pagoda, the relic museum, and the cave hall, this pavilion helps visitors understand the temple as a living map of the teacher’s life. Each area tells a different part of the story: practice, residence, worship, memorial, and community devotion.

 

The old kuti of Luang Pu Khao is a small wooden dwelling set among trees. Its importance lies not in grandeur, but in simplicity. It shows the conditions in which a forest monk lived and practiced. For many visitors, this humble kuti is one of the most moving parts of the temple, because it makes the values of the forest tradition visible. The new kuti, built in a larger modern Thai style, reflects later development and practical needs of the temple, while the old kuti continues to preserve the memory of simple monastic living.

 

Wat Tham Klong Phen is suitable for several types of visitors. Buddhist pilgrims can pay respect to Luang Pu Khao and other sacred areas. Meditation practitioners can appreciate the quietness of the forest monastery. Cultural travelers can learn about the Thai forest tradition and its place in northeastern Buddhism. Nature lovers can enjoy the rock garden, trees, and cave landscape. Families can use the temple as a learning site for Thai religion, local history, and respectful behavior in sacred places. The temple offers depth without requiring formal study, because much of its meaning can be understood through place, atmosphere, and movement.

 

A proper visit should allow enough time. If time is limited, start with the main cave hall, the ancient drum, the statue of Luang Pu Khao, and the Buddha images among the rocks. Then continue to the monastic relic museum, wax figure museum, old kuti, pagoda, and pavilion. With a half-day schedule, visitors can move through all major areas without rushing. This makes the visit more rewarding because Wat Tham Klong Phen is not only a place to see; it is a place to slow down.

 

The best time to visit is in the morning or early afternoon during the opening hours from 07.00 to 17.00. Morning is cooler and better for walking through outdoor areas such as the rock garden, old kuti, and pagoda. Early afternoon is practical for travelers combining the temple with the 150-Million-Year-Old Shell Fossil Museum and Dinosaur Non Than or city attractions in Nong Bua Lam Phu. On important Buddhist days, especially Visakha Bucha, allow extra time because many devotees may attend religious events at the temple.

 

Wat Tham Klong Phen remains a living religious center. It hosts the annual homage ceremony for Luang Pu Khao Analayo, the gratitude ceremony for revered teachers, and Buddhist activities during the Visakha Bucha period. These events include almsgiving, homage to revered teachers, worship of Luang Pu Khao, and candlelight processions. Such events show that the temple is not a static tourist site. It continues to function as a center of devotion, memory, and Buddhist community life.

 

Visitors should behave respectfully throughout the temple grounds. Dress modestly, speak softly, avoid climbing on rocks or restricted areas, do not write on surfaces, do not touch museum objects unless permitted, and follow instructions given by monks or temple staff. Some areas may require shoes to be removed. Because the temple is both a forest monastery and a tourist attraction, respectful behavior protects the sacred atmosphere and allows all visitors to experience the site properly.

 

Photography is possible in many areas, but it should be done with care. Good photo points include the entrance sign, cave hall, ancient drum, Buddha images among the rocks, the large Phra Sangkachai image, the wax figure museum building, the relic museum, the natural rock garden, the old kuti, and the Luang Pu Khao pagoda. The best photographs should show the relationship between stone, forest, Buddha images, and sacred memory. Avoid inappropriate poses near sacred images, relics, or teacher figures.

 

Getting There from Nong Bua Lam Phu city is straightforward. Take Highway 210 on the Nong Bua Lam Phu-Udon Thani route for about 13 km, then turn right toward Wat Tham Klong Phen and continue for about 2 km into the temple area. The road is suitable for private cars, vans, and small buses. Travelers without a private vehicle can use a bus on the Nong Bua Lam Phu-Udon Thani route and continue by local transport. A private car is the most convenient choice because the temple grounds contain several zones and nearby attractions can be combined in the same trip.

 

Travelers coming from Udon Thani can also use Highway 210 toward Nong Bua Lam Phu. The temple is located before reaching Nong Bua Lam Phu city when coming from the Udon Thani side. This makes it convenient for visitors arriving from Udon Thani Airport or Udon Thani city. The temple can be combined with the fossil museum in Non Than Subdistrict, creating a route that connects Buddhist heritage, forest meditation culture, geology, fossils, and family-friendly learning.

 

There is no admission fee at Wat Tham Klong Phen. Visitors can enter the temple, pay respect, and walk through the grounds free of charge. Donations, flowers, garlands, candles, or other appropriate offerings may be prepared according to personal faith. Organized groups, schools, or cultural study groups should contact the temple in advance, especially during major Buddhist days or annual ceremonies, when many devotees visit the temple.

 

The main caretaker of the temple is the monastic community of Wat Tham Klong Phen. Current public temple information identifies Phra Ratchaphawanawachirakon, also known as Luang Por Inthawai Santussako, as the abbot. The monks and disciples of Luang Pu Khao Analayo help maintain the temple, museums, sacred areas, pagoda, old kuti, and religious activities. Their care allows the temple to remain both a place of worship and a learning destination for visitors.

 

Nearby attractions include the Luang Pu Khao Analayo Monastic Relics Museum, the Luang Pu Khao Wax Figure Museum, the Luang Pu Khao Pagoda, the 150-Million-Year-Old Shell Fossil Museum and Dinosaur Non Than, the Shrine of King Naresuan the Great, Wat Mahachai, and Thao To Waterfall Forest Park. This makes Wat Tham Klong Phen a strong starting point for a route combining faith, meditation culture, geology, city history, and nature in Nong Bua Lam Phu.

 

Restaurants near the temple are found both along the Non Than route and in Nong Bua Lam Phu city. Convenient options include The Container Coffee, Naka Loft Cafe, C.U. Hua Pla Mor Fai, Overtime, A Sor @ 5.59, and Belief Cafe & Garden. Travelers can plan a meal stop before or after visiting the temple. Larger groups and families should check restaurant timing and seating in advance because the temple itself is not a restaurant area.

 

Accommodation is mainly available in Mueang Nong Bua Lam Phu District, within a practical driving distance of the temple. Options with public contact information include Ruean Cho Fa Hotel, Nongbualamphu Signature, Nong Bua Garden Ville, 39000 Resort, and Phu Fa Resort. Staying in town is convenient for travelers who want to visit Wat Tham Klong Phen in the morning and continue to the fossil museum, city shrine, local restaurants, or other provincial attractions later in the day.

 

For foreign visitors, Wat Tham Klong Phen can be described as a forest meditation temple and cave monastery connected with Luang Pu Khao Analayo, a revered Thai forest monk. Its highlights include the cave hall, ancient double-sided drum, natural rock formations, Buddha images, monastic relic museum, wax figure museum, old kuti, pagoda, and quiet forest atmosphere. Travelers interested in Buddhism, meditation, sacred caves, forest monasteries, and Thai spiritual culture will find the temple especially meaningful.

 

The value of Wat Tham Klong Phen goes beyond sightseeing. The rocks are not only natural scenery; they are part of the temple’s spiritual environment. The cave is not only a geological feature; it is a sacred hall. The museums are not only display buildings; they preserve the memory of a revered meditation master. The pagoda and old kuti are not only structures; they are reminders of a life devoted to practice. A visit to this temple is therefore best experienced slowly, respectfully, and with attention to both nature and faith.

 

In summary, Wat Tham Klong Phen in Nong Bua Lam Phu is one of the most important forest temples in northeastern Thailand. It brings together an ancient temple setting, the cave hall, the old klong phen drum, Buddha images among natural rocks, the large Phra Sangkachai image, Luang Pu Khao’s relic museum, wax figure museum, old kuti, pagoda, pavilion, forest paths, and natural stone gardens. Visitors come here to pay respect, learn about the Thai forest tradition, walk through a peaceful natural landscape, and experience one of Nong Bua Lam Phu’s most meaningful sacred places.

 

 

A: Wat Tham Klong Phen is located in Non Than Subdistrict, Mueang Nong Bua Lam Phu District, Nong Bua Lam Phu Province, at the foot of the Phu Phan mountain range along the Nong Bua Lam Phu-Udon Thani route.

 

A: The temple is open daily from 07.00 to 17.00.

 

A: No admission fee is charged. Visitors may make donations according to their faith.

 

A: It is an important forest meditation temple associated with Luang Pu Khao Analayo, who stayed and practiced there from 1958 until his passing in 1983. The temple is deeply respected by followers of the Thai forest meditation tradition.

 

A: Visitors can see the cave hall, ancient double-sided drum, statue of Luang Pu Khao, Buddha images among the rocks, large Phra Sangkachai image, monastic relic museum, wax figure museum, old kuti, pagoda, pavilion, and natural rock garden.

 

A: The abbot is Phra Ratchaphawanawachirakon, also known as Luang Por Inthawai Santussako.

 

A: Take Highway 210 toward Udon Thani for about 13 km, then turn right toward Wat Tham Klong Phen and continue for about 2 km into the temple area.

 

A: Nearby places include the 150-Million-Year-Old Shell Fossil Museum and Dinosaur Non Than, the Shrine of King Naresuan the Great, Wat Mahachai, Thao To Waterfall Forest Park, and Luang Pu Lot Museum at Pamotita Chedi.