Wat Khao Sukim: A Temple of Peace and Meditation in Chanthaburi

Buddhism has been a significant part of daily Thai lives for almost 1,000 years before modern-day Thailand was born. It penetrates every part of their society, so you can never truly understand Thailand or the Thai people unless you experience Buddhist temples and festivals. 

Thailand is a truly remarkable nation in culture, religion, and temples. If you are a fan of culture and want to experience the natural Thai way, visiting one of its thousands of Buddhist temples is best. And although Chanthaburi has dozens, if you want to visit one of the best, we recommend you visit Wat Khao Sukim. 

Also, if you are traveling through the beautiful Chanthaburi region in eastern Thailand and want to explore the area’s Buddhist roots, then you should continue reading.

 Fun Fact!

Wat Khao Sukim Temple holds some precious Buddhist Relics, you will come across 20 wax statues of prominent Buddhist Monks and a mural painting in the main hall known as Ubosot.

Learning More About Wat Khao Sukim

Wat Khao Sukim is located on a hill in Chanthaburi, over 1,320 acres. The temple was built in relatively recent times in 1966 by a group of serious Buddhists who wanted a peaceful temple to meditate and contemplate. The massive temple grounds are a thing of beauty, surrounded by stunning orchards that offer some much-needed shade. 

The temple is known to hold some precious Buddhist relics and antiques donated to the temple by the general public. You are greeted by some tall wax sculptures of 20 revered Buddhist monks that give the temple a certain grandeur. There is a grand mural painting in the main ceremonial hall, called the Ubosot, painted by the famous Thai artist Chakrabhand Posayakrit. Some nearby fish ponds give the area a friendly atmosphere, and you can feed the fish while you are there. Everything at this temple was created to evoke peace. This temple is one of the most popular for those who want to meditate. 

Chanthaburi is one of the most off-the-beaten-track places for those looking to explore the outer reaches of Thailand. It is a region that seldom gets the same tourist numbers as Pattaya, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok), or Phuket but is somehow more authentic and accurate than those destinations, making it unique. 

  Did You Know?

The covered area of this Temple is 1320 acres. Situated on top of a hill, Buddhists built this Temple for meditation in peace and tranquility.

How to Get to Wat Khao Sukim at Chanthaburi?

The temple is located approximately 20 km from Chanthaburi Town and is relatively easy to find. The temple is near the impressive Khao Khitchakut National Park, which you can reach in three different ways. You can get to the temple by traveling along the Sukhumvit Road Highway 3. You can also access the temple via Km. 305 (Ban Huai Sathon); at the Ban Noen Sung intersection; or Km. 324 (Khao Rai Ya intersection).

It is important to remember that whether you are a male or female, you should wear conservative clothing when visiting a Buddhist temple. Wearing short skirts and flimsy clothing is seen as disrespectful when visiting a Buddhist temple. It is also important to point out that Wat Khao Sukim is not one of the flashy and tourist-style Buddhist temples and is also not set up for significant tourism. It is good because the temple was made for meditation and peacefulness, so the more laidback, the better. 

Just don’t expect to be met by something the size of Thailand’s more major and iconic temples. But that’s what is great about visiting Wat Khao Sukim. You are experiencing something genuine and authentic, one of the best aspects of visiting places like Chanthaburi. 

  Trivia!

There are over 40,000 Temples in Thailand, and more than 33,000 are in public use.

Map & More Information

Wat Khao Sukim is a temple of peace and meditation located on a hill in Chanthaburi. Orchards and a stunning pond of water surround this place.