Muang On Cave... continued from Click here!
(KM. 10 north turn - 1 km.)
Also known as Wat Phra Non Mae Pukha, the temple is set amidst the rice paddy. A large viharn has been built around a long reclining Buddha image. Murals in a recent style cover much of the walls. Many people come to bathe the image during the Songkran festival.
In the Lanna period San Kamphaeng was famous for its pottery kilns; today modern kilns operate nearby. The small market town is prosperous and there are several handicraft shops. Take H1006 to the hot springs (18 km.) from the road junction in the middle of town.
Muang On Cave(H1317 KM.28 west turn - 1 km.)
A narrow scaled road leads up the side of a hill to a small car park. From there you have to climb up a steep naga stairway for about 100 meters before reaching the entrance to the caves.
Make sure the lights have been switched on before descending into some big, deep caverns.
A large seated Buddha image amidst stalactites creates an impressive effect.
(H1317 KM.29 west turn - 3 km.)
The San Kamphaeng hot springs (10 Baht. entrance) and the Roong Arun Hot Springs Resort (20 Baht. entrance) have geysers, mineral baths and gardens that make a pleasant setting for relaxation. Both offer accommodation, but the privately run Roong Arun Hot Springs has more the feeling of a resort.
The road past the hot springs leads to Ban Mae Pong, from where you may go to Doi Saket. Numerous narrow lanes make the route confusing, however. Return via H1317 and take R1147 east to visit Wat Pa Tung.
(12 km. from San Kamphaeng. When R1147 turns sharply right at low hills, go straight on a lane that leads due east.)
Located in the midst of paddy dotted with sugar palms, this temple contains a large, modern teak kuti. The kuti was built for Luang Pho La Chaiya Janto, who died in 1993 at the age of 96. His body is kept in a glass case.
The temple holds three festivals annually: Luang Pho La's death (16 March), paying respects to the chedi (8th day of the waxing moon in the seventh lunar month - around mid-June) and on his birthday (20 - 22 September).
The second festival features rocket and long drum contests, but the third festival is the biggest and holds a competition for traditional and northern classical dancing.
(H1006. East turn onto R1229)
The road goes over a low pass before dropping down to the less developed upper Mae Tha Valley. The new and undeveloped park is 1 km. north of the junction. R1230 offers a picturesque route south along the Mae Tha Valley to H11 (35 km.).
See also: [Bo Sang Umbrella Festival]