Wat Tham Klong Phen

Located at the foot of Phu Phan mountain, Wat Tham Klong Phen is the Nong Bua Lam Phu province’s most famous forest temple. Though accurate historical accounts do not exist, it is likely that the temple was built during the Khmer period and was neglected or abandoned until 1958. Respected monk Luang Pu Khao Ananyo, who was a follower of Vipassana meditation, and who studied under Achan Man Phurithatta Thera, practiced meditation here. He built a cement roof over three or four of the huge rocks, creating a huge hall capable of accommodating hundreds. Blanketed with lush vegetable and decorated with a rock garden, the area around the temple is very shady and peaceful. The main hall or Ubosot houses the statue of Luang Phu Khao and a two-sided ancient drum or Klong Phen. A two-kilometer-long road running through a forest and strangely-shaped rocks leads to the monument of Luang Phu Khao, which has nearby museums, a pagoda and a pavilion dedicated to the monk as well as his old monastery.