5 Amazing Monasteries To Visit In Thailand

monasteries in thailand
Sumit
Sumit 
Published
| 4 min read

Though Thailand is known for its street food, it has a lot more to offer than eating out, enjoying the vibrant nightlife and relaxing on one of the beaches. As one of the world’s center points for Buddhism, this country is home to numerous monasteries, temples, and sculptures. Whether on a sight-seeing tour or a pilgrimage visit, monasteries should be included in your itinerary. Not only will these visits enhance your knowledge of the religion, but you will get to see the beauty and expertise in the architecture of these structures. Subsequently, visits to such places take one away from the chaos of city life into the tranquil environment surrounding these monasteries. These are where monks live and dedicate themselves to the religion, but they are open to the general public for visits. Some of them even permit visitors to stay for some time. The spaces here are perfect for the purpose of meditation. Check out some of these amazing monasteries to visit in Thailand.

1. Wat Pah Nanachat

The Sala of Wat Pah Nanachat
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user International For... used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Situated in the forested areas of Theravada, Wat Pah Nanachat is one of the most famous Buddhist monasteries in the country. It is located around 15 km (9.3 miles) from the city of Bangkok. This monastery follows the teaching of the Dhamma Vinaya. It was established by Ven Ajahn Chah in 1975, as a branch monastery of Wat Nong Pah Pong. Visitors who have do not have knowledge of Buddhism, if interested, can undergo monastic training here - after all, its purpose is to provide training to non-Thais. If undertaken, the training cannot be taken lightly, and the trainees have to go through a rigorous schedule. The main five training purposes are: not to intentionally take the life of a living creature, chastity, use of right language, sobriety, and trustworthiness. The visiting time is from 5:30 am to 6 pm from Monday to Saturday, and there is no entry fee to visit. The monks and other members of this monastery come from all over the world.

Wat Pah Nanachat

Address: Bung Wai, Warin Chamrap District, Ubon Ratchathani 34310

Website: Wat Pah Nanachat

Opening hours: 5:30am - 6pm (daily)

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2. Wat Suan Mok Phalaram

Thai Buddhist monk blesses
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user ผู้สร้างสรรค์ผลงา... used under CC BY 3.0

Built around trees and plants, Suan Mok Phalaram is a monastery and meditation center. It is situated around 600 km (372.8 miles) from Bangkok and was founded in 1932. It is spread over an area of 120 acres (48.6 hectares) and was founded by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu. People come here for spiritual enlightenment. Rituals here have been reduced but not discarded. Suan Mok means “the garden of liberation”. There is also the presence of wildlife in the Wat, as the temple is set on a hill. There is a lecture hall as well as an auditorium within the monastery. The few buildings that exist are for certain purposes, and the remaining areas are kept as natural as possible. With more than fifty years of existence, this monastery is well-respected in the country.

Wat Suan Mok Phalaram

Address: 6 68 Lamet, Chaiya District, Surat Thani 84110

Opening hours: 6am – 6pm (daily)

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3. Sunyataram Forest Monastery

Tibetan buddhist monk listens during debating practice at Sera Monastery, Lhasa, Tibet in 2007 (cropped)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Thomas.fanghaenel used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Sunyataram Forest Monastery, when translated, means “pure mind forest monastery”. It is situated 302 km (187.7 miles) northwest of Bangkok. The meditation system is that of anapanasati and metta. This monastery is spread out over 112 acres (45.3 hectares) of forested land and is surrounded by precipitous mountains. It was founded in 1984 by Phara Ajahn Yatra. There are caves present nearby, which devotees use for meditation. The food served is vegetarian because of the metta practice, and the meal requirements of the monks and trainees are mostly filled by the garden they maintain on the property. There are sufficient lodgings of different sizes available. During retreats, when the number of visitors increases, bamboo lodgings (known as kutis) are made. There are also a lot of visiting monks from time to time, and some of them are quite famous in the country.

Sunyataram Forest Place

Address: Prang Phe, Sangkhla Buri District, Kanchanaburi 71240

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4. Wat Tham Ta Pan


Wat Tham Ta Pan is situated in Phang Nga Town, northeast of Phuket. There is a fountain with five monk statues at the entrance of the temple. These five statutes symbolize beauty, wealth, cleverness, health, and happiness. The temple built in this monastery is based on the concept of heaven and hell. The depiction of hell is quite spooky, hence, it is better to avoid bringing children. There are some buildings here as well as a cliff. To reach the cliff, one has to walk through a well-maintained and beautiful garden. There are numerous sculptures and illustrations on the cliff, including depictions of Indian gods and goddesses. While visiting this place, it would be preferable to hire the services of a guide to learn more about it. There are facilities for parking available, so best bring a vehicle as getting to this location via public transport can be quite time-consuming.

Wat Tham Ta Pan

Address: 79 Thamtapan 5 Alley, Tham Nam Phut, Mueang Phang-nga District, Phang-nga 82000

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5. Doi Pui Bureau of Monks

Chiang-Mai Thailand Buddhist-monks-installing-lampioons-01
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user CEphoto, Uwe Aranas used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Doi Pui Bureau of Monks is part of the Doi Suthep Mountain in Chiang Mai. There is also a Doi Suthep Temple that is filled with visitors throughout the year. This place is basically the base office of the Monk Forestry Department, and their duty is to take care of the local temples in the region. The temple is around a 40-minute drive from Chiang Mai. There are other activities that can be done here, like visiting Chiang Mai Zoo and Huay Kaew Waterfall. Then there is the Orchid Jade Factory, where visitors can purchase real but cheap jade jewelry.

Doi Pui Bureau of Monks

Address: Suthep, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200

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Visit one of these peaceful monasteries in Thailand

Thailand is well-known for its tranquil beaches, shopping, and lively nightlife. However, the country also has several peaceful monasteries you can visit and learn more about monks and Buddhism.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
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Sumit lived in the UK for 10 years and experienced the hustle and bustle of the urban life. However, the serene Scottish country side is where his heart lies. He is still unable to understand Welsh...Read more

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