Visit Wat Tham Khao Pun (Kanchanaburi)

Located 6 kilometers from Kanchanaburi town, Wat Tham Khao Pun is a fascinating cave system, filled with natural chambers and lighted passages. Concealing nine caves adorned with Buddhist and Hindu shrines, it is considered the most accessible cave temple among the many ones you can find in Kanchanaburi province and its surrounding areas. One of the nicest ways to visit it is by taking a longtail boat from under the River Kwai Bridge.

The Wat Tham Khao Poon cave has 9 rooms: the Phra Buddha Saiyas room (reclining Buddha room), the Ja-Ae room, the Mai Dern room (walking stick), the Soi Yoi room (weeping fig tree) , Jorrakae Hall (Crocodile Hall), Phor Poe Reussi Hall (Ascetic Hall), Thape Ni-Mitra Hall (God Vision Hall), Kaew Hall (Crystal Hall) and Thape Prasittisopol Hall. Don't miss its cedi on the top of the hill.

It also is a witness of the dark events of World War II, Japanese soldiers had set up a medical center, known as Khao Poon Hospital, near the river. King Chulalongkorn visited the cave in 1870 to worship the reclining Buddha there.

The temple's reputation was tarnished after the murder of a British tourist by a 22-year-old monk addicted to amphetamines, in 1995. The monk was defrocked and sentenced to life in prison.