Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
4 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
5 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
6 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
7 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Thailand Tambon Pong Ngam Wat Tham Pla

Wat Tham Pla

A Buddhist shrine in a cave protected by macaques next to dark passages lined with creepy paintings.

Tambon Pong Ngam, Thailand

Added By
Max Cortesi
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Mythical canaries adorning the ceremonial hall.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Mythical canaries adorning the ceremonial hall.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Inside the cave.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Detail of the monument dominating the ceremonial hall.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
View of the cliff with the cave from the distance.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Inside the cave.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
A statue in the Buddhist Hell-themed installation outside the cave.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Inside the cave.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Inside the cave.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Wat Tham Pla (Cave Fish Temple) is a deceptively small Buddhist complex consisting of several incongruous elements. A limestone cliff rises abruptly next to a clearing, where you'll find a cave of fish, crocodile pond, ancient monument, Buddhist Hell statues, and many many monkeys. 

At the cave, Tham Pla, a stream of fresh water forms a pond that extends outside the cavern. As the name suggests, it has plenty of fish swimming in it. Not far from there, an artificial enclosed pond is home to some crocodiles. (Unfortunately a sad sight as the enclosure is obviously too small.) But neither the fish nor the crocodiles dominate the scene. Macaques do. A troop of irascible macaques wields supreme power over the whole compound—so much so that this location is sometimes referred to as the "Monkey Temple."     

Street vendors offer snacks and drinks on the main clearing, from which the ordination hall can be seen. The backdrop of the hall is an ancient monument with graceful decorations—the line of canaries is particularly beautiful. Adjacent to the ordination hall are some cartoonish statues portraying scenes from Buddhist Hell.

A weathered stairway adorned with two nagas (mythological snakes) leads to a shrine inside the cave. Go beyond the shrine and you’ll find narrow, slippery passages with bats fluttering around your head, and the smell of guano filling your lungs. Follow these passageways to get to recesses with creepy paintings lurking in the dark. If the objective of these paintings was to evoke dread, they exceed expectations.

Related Tags

Caves Temples Buddhism Monkeys Sacred Spaces Shrines Statues Paintings Ecosystems

Know Before You Go

Wat Tham Pla is located in Ban Huai Poo Kaeng, a village about 12.5 miles (20 km) before Highway 1149 reaches the Thai-Myanmar border. Be extra careful around macaques, especially if you have anything in your hands. A stick is sometimes given to visitors to fend them off. Hiking boots are recommended for entering the cave. At times, you can find a monk sitting near the entrance lending lanterns to visitors, but to be on the safe side, you should bring your own torch.

Community Contributors

Added By

Max Cortesi

Published

May 17, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Wat Tham Pla
Unnamed Road
Tambon Pong Ngam
Thailand
20.329447, 99.863539
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Doi Tung Trenches

Tambon Pong Ngam, Thailand

miles away

House of Opium

Sop Ruak, Thailand

miles away

Baan Dam (Black House)

Chiang Rai, Thailand

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Tambon Pong Ngam

Tambon Pong Ngam

Thailand

Places 2

Nearby Places

Doi Tung Trenches

Tambon Pong Ngam, Thailand

miles away

House of Opium

Sop Ruak, Thailand

miles away

Baan Dam (Black House)

Chiang Rai, Thailand

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Tambon Pong Ngam

Tambon Pong Ngam

Thailand

Places 2

Related Places

  • The 272 steps to the main cave, guarded by Murugan

    Batu Caves, Malaysia

    Batu Caves

    Holy Hindu shrine in an enormous, monkey-filled limestone cavern.

  • A massive seated Buddha is carved into a rock face.

    Tianshui, China

    Bingling Temple

    A hidden Buddhist gem accessible only by boat.

  • Kyoto, Japan

    Gokōshiyui Amidabutsu

    This statue of Buddha has a distinctive hairstyle meant to represent an unfathomably long period of meditation.

  • Inside the Son Bhandar Caves.

    Rajgir, India

    Son Bhandar Caves

    A pair of mysterious, unusually polished cave temples with an ancient gold legend.

  • The okumiya or “inner shrine” of Zeniarai Benten.

    Kamakura, Japan

    Zeniarai Benten Shrine

    It is said that coins washed in the waters here will miraculously multiply.

  • The face of the Buddha.

    Tokyo, Japan

    Ueno Daibutsu

    Only the face remains of this giant Buddha statue, which is said to be a source of luck for students.

  • A pagoda at Mogao Caves.

    Jiuquan, China

    Mogao Caves

    Hundreds of caves filled with thousands of centuries-old statues and murals.

  • Buduruwagala, Sri Lanka

    Buduruwagala

    Seven beautiful 1,000-year-old rock-cut Buddhist statues.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.