Visit Wat Jong Kham and Wat Jong Klang (Mae Hong Son)

The Wat Jong Kham and Wat Jong Klang temples are side by side, if the visitor may think that it is a single temple but it is acutally two. Located on the shores of Jong Kham Lake, they are the most famous of the city and are beautifully lit by night. Their photo reflecting in the lake is probably the most common picture of Mae Hong Son. The temples date from the early 19th century and were built in the Burmese Shan style. Wat Jong Kham is the older one and is best known for its large wooden throne. Wat Jong Klang is noticable by its white and gold chedi. Inside the Wihaan behind the chedi there is a lot of glass paintings telling the Jataka tales, stories from India which trace the previous lives of the Buddha. They were painted by Thai Yai Shan artists from Mandalay and were brought to Wat Jong Klang in the middle of 19th century. There is also a small museum hosting interesting figurines and statues. The curiosity of Wat Jong Klang is probably the wicker Buddha sitting in its Wihaan.

Free admission
Each evening, there is a small night market with some merchants in front of the temple and in the street that leads to the post office.

Wat Jong Kham and Wat Jong Klang is a temple and when you visit a temple in Thailand there are some rules to know and follow:

• Dress properly (knees and shoulders should be covered)
• Take off your shoes when entering the buildings
• Be quiet
• Don't hug or kiss
• Don't point your feet to Buddha's image
• Don't smoke