Wat Khao Takiap

Perched on 272m Chopstick Hill jutting out into the Gulf of Thailand, Wat Khao Takiap is a magnificent Buddhist temple. The shrine is dedicated to Guan Yin, the Boddhisattva of mercy and compassion who owns a thousand arms. The temple overlooks the Gulf of Thailand and offers a magnificent vista as far as Cha-Am Beach in the distance. It also boasts the iconic 20m tall golden Buddha statue built amid the hill facing the sea.

The temple is known for its stellar location and captivating spiritual atmosphere. It boasts several pagodas and intricate temple art in red, blue, and golden narrating old stories and legends. There is a statue of Pu Tai, commonly known as the Laughing Buddha and believed to be the protector of children and the destitute. You can throw coins in the statue’s belly hole for good fortune. The temple's parking lot is also interesting, with statues of many-headed Buddhas, dinosaur and dragon sculptures, and a prayer pagoda. The temple is also called the Monkey Temple due to the many Macaque monkeys roaming around there. Beware of the monkeys as they are adept at snatching away food and belongings from your hand. 

The trek up the hill itself is a fascinating experience in itself. It starts from the Hua Hin- Khao Takiab beach and takes around an hour to reach the temple at the summit. You will find several stalls serving freshly cooked, delicious seafood of Thai cuisine. If you don’t want to walk, there are tuk-tuks or songthaew you can rent that will take you to the top through a fishing village on the backside of the mountain. You may even rent a bike and drive up yourself.