Wat Tham Ta Pan Temple
Wat Tham Ta Pan Temple
4.5
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4.5
56 reviews
Excellent
28
Very good
21
Average
4
Poor
1
Terrible
2
mac
5 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
No people there whatsoever. The place being quiet made it even more eerie and weird. Recommend if you want to see something quirky and different
Written 24 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
HOOMAN
Tehran, Iran1,187 contributions
Mar 2019
In our way from Ao nang to Phang Nga we found "Wat Tham Ta Pan" monastery. Wat Tham Ta Pan is one of the most weird temples in Thailand. It's Located in Phang Nga (100 km from Phuket). It is a kind of Buddhist heaven and hell temple which showing what happens to bad and good people with many colorful statues.
At the entrance you’ll see a fountain with five monks with bowl statues. The temple has a vast yard with many Buddhist elements and statues and buildings and an interesting spot for photography. There are peaceful scenes designed to represent heaven, and the sin park is a small sculpture garden full of figures from Buddhist hell (Naraka). The most stunning thing in this temple is a steep staircase which leads to a small roofed temple with panoramic viewpoint at top. The scenery is really breathtaking and all surrounding area is visible. This monastery is worthy of visiting.
At the entrance you’ll see a fountain with five monks with bowl statues. The temple has a vast yard with many Buddhist elements and statues and buildings and an interesting spot for photography. There are peaceful scenes designed to represent heaven, and the sin park is a small sculpture garden full of figures from Buddhist hell (Naraka). The most stunning thing in this temple is a steep staircase which leads to a small roofed temple with panoramic viewpoint at top. The scenery is really breathtaking and all surrounding area is visible. This monastery is worthy of visiting.
Written 19 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Shellie
7 contributions
Nov 2019 • Couples
Love this place, brings you back to reality, for the none Buddhist could be rather daunting, but understanding 'bardo' and how you should live a humble life to avoid it at it's worst.... Well, then worth a visit!!
Written 19 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Marvin
Darmstadt, Germany3 contributions
Aug 2019 • Couples
Visited this place with my girlfriend without really knowing what awaited us. She had been kinda creeped out as soon as we arrived. It’s really abandoned except for few monks living there.
It shows the Buddhist versions of heaven and hell. Lots of creepy figures.
It shows the Buddhist versions of heaven and hell. Lots of creepy figures.
Written 27 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Zosia B
Waterloo, Belgium1,310 contributions
Aug 2019
I'm not sure what to think of this experience and not sure how to rate it as it is like no other place I have ever visited. The grounds felt slightly abandoned despite there being monks present. Ornate statues are scattered throughout the grounds giving it the feel of an abandoned movie set. A walk through the mouth of the dragon brings you to the "hell" portion of the temple where grotesque figures depict torture and terror. I'm not sure we ever found the "heaven" portion of the temple...a long and hot climb up a set of stairs towering over the grounds wiped us out and we were ready to leave. Surreal might be the best way to describe this experience.
Written 8 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
UkTonyB
uk99 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
This is a typical temple, how ever it has some amazing statues around the grounds, a very large Buddha and dragon, it also has on a lower level a place that shows you that if your bad then you will end up here, grotesque statues show the torture you will go through, you can walk round in a hour easy, so plan it it with some other attractions in phangnga town
Written 31 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
George D
277 contributions
Sep 2018 • Family
This was not a place on the 3 temples tour! A very different temple experience. Free entry but it's always nice to make a donation. You enter the complex through a huge dragon walking the length of its body before exiting into Buddist hell. Lots of graphic statues of sinners being dealt with by demons in a not so peaceful manner! Our 1 year old was too young to be freaked out but i'd say children over 2 may be a little scared for life. We found the place enlightening and thoroughly worth a visit.
Written 10 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Cherilyn L
53 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
looks like an abandoned temple although there's few people sitting there ( not sure they are visitors or temple committees ).. a lot of mosquitoes.. reached there in the early evening but the entrance to some point already closed.. will be a nice temple if all the overgrown bushes/temple are well kept
Written 21 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Cathy&Gary
South Australia, Australia16,140 contributions
Nov 2017 • Friends
Wat Thamtapan is in Phang Nga town which is about 1.5 hours’ drive from Phuket and this would have to be the strangest Temple I have ever been in. There are shocking displays of what Buddhist Hell would be like, plus a nice display for Heaven! It may not suitable for very young children as there are some quite horrific statues that leave nothing to the imagination.
There is a massive dragon and you enter through his mouth, when you come out at the other end you are in Hell, there is also another area down a small dirt track and you enter a beautiful cave with little bridges that cross a small river inside, however sometimes it is so muddy due to rain that you cannot walk down to the bridges.
Once you come out of the Hell section you will see some animal statues, head to the right and you will enter Heaven where everything is much prettier!
I have never seen such gruesome statues and they are huge, much bigger than me. There is not much I can say about this place, I will let the photos tell the story.
There are quite a lot of Temples like Wat Thamtapan scattered across Thailand. Entry is free, and we enjoy taking friends and family here as they have no idea what they are about to see!
Just keep driving through Phang Nga Town and on the left you will see Soi Thamtapan which is just past the hospital, the Temple is about half a kilometer down the Soi. Most definitely worth a visit.
There is a massive dragon and you enter through his mouth, when you come out at the other end you are in Hell, there is also another area down a small dirt track and you enter a beautiful cave with little bridges that cross a small river inside, however sometimes it is so muddy due to rain that you cannot walk down to the bridges.
Once you come out of the Hell section you will see some animal statues, head to the right and you will enter Heaven where everything is much prettier!
I have never seen such gruesome statues and they are huge, much bigger than me. There is not much I can say about this place, I will let the photos tell the story.
There are quite a lot of Temples like Wat Thamtapan scattered across Thailand. Entry is free, and we enjoy taking friends and family here as they have no idea what they are about to see!
Just keep driving through Phang Nga Town and on the left you will see Soi Thamtapan which is just past the hospital, the Temple is about half a kilometer down the Soi. Most definitely worth a visit.
Written 11 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
RonnieFriend
Stockholm, Sweden259 contributions
Apr 2018 • Solo
I spent the good part of a day exploring and meditating in this beautiful Buddhist Temple just outside of Phang Nga, amidst the jungle and mountains. There are fascinating sculptures throughout the site, very colorful, spiritual, and humorous. Many of the sculptures depict the horrors of Hell and afterlife punishments for those who are evil. I found these fascinating and even humorous in their gruesome detail. There are also lovely statues of saints and Buddhas in such beautiful forest surroundings, and these are quite stunning!
There is also a very large colorful dragon sculpture. You have to walk into the mouth of the dragon in order to enter the temple, which is inside a cave in the mountain! Quite adventurous, symbolic, spiritual, and again, with a touch of humor. Entering the cave was glorious. Beautiful tall trees at the foot of the mountain (after you exit the backside of the dragon!), where you find the entrance to the cave. Inside the cave were many altars and places for prayer. I prayed and meditated at a shrine and was blessed with prayers and holy water from a very friendly, happy and kind monk or priest. He spoke no English and I don't speak Thai (except for "hello" and "thank you"), so our interaction was nonverbal, cross cultural and inspiring.
There was also a tower which you can climb by going up a system of staircases that wind up through the beautiful tall trees. The view at the top was spectacular! The forests, the mountains and the islands in the Bay of Phang Nga. This was one of my favorite days in Thailand, during Easter Holiday this year. By the way, I went there with my Thai friend, and we were the only visitors in the whole place! I hope you can also find this hidden gem!
There is also a very large colorful dragon sculpture. You have to walk into the mouth of the dragon in order to enter the temple, which is inside a cave in the mountain! Quite adventurous, symbolic, spiritual, and again, with a touch of humor. Entering the cave was glorious. Beautiful tall trees at the foot of the mountain (after you exit the backside of the dragon!), where you find the entrance to the cave. Inside the cave were many altars and places for prayer. I prayed and meditated at a shrine and was blessed with prayers and holy water from a very friendly, happy and kind monk or priest. He spoke no English and I don't speak Thai (except for "hello" and "thank you"), so our interaction was nonverbal, cross cultural and inspiring.
There was also a tower which you can climb by going up a system of staircases that wind up through the beautiful tall trees. The view at the top was spectacular! The forests, the mountains and the islands in the Bay of Phang Nga. This was one of my favorite days in Thailand, during Easter Holiday this year. By the way, I went there with my Thai friend, and we were the only visitors in the whole place! I hope you can also find this hidden gem!
Written 29 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
pianocello
Shah Alam, Malaysia1,301 contributions
I see a lot of trees and leaves around. As my pregnant wife and toddler attract mosquitoes easily - I'd like to know whether there are many mosquitoes in this attraction. Thanks for your answer.
pkalman
Budapest, Hungary35 contributions
I can't remember any mosquitos during the day. Feel free to visit the shrine.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
WAT THAM TA PAN TEMPLE (Phang Nga) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Wat Tham Ta Pan Temple
- Hotels near Wat Tham Ta Pan Temple:
- (0.05 km) Lodge Phang Nga
- (0.37 km) Sawasdee Lagoon Camping Resort
- (0.73 km) Home Phang Nga Guesthouse
- (0.60 km) Baan Kierin - b̂ān khī rin
- (0.73 km) Pranee Home Phangnga
- Restaurants near Wat Tham Ta Pan Temple:
- (0.03 km) Kroutonthon
- (0.37 km) Ban Krua Lapoon
- (0.50 km) ฺBuddy Restaurant
- (0.50 km) Deli Café
- (0.60 km) Cīb s̄d phạngngā