Red lanterns, smiling Buddhas and a pagoda that seems to touch the sky: Wat Tham Khao Noi, the Temple of the Small Cave, feels like a piece of China in the hills of Kanchanaburi. From its terraces the view sweeps across rice fields and the river valley to the mountains on the horizon.
Background
The temple was founded in 1881 and belongs to the Mahayana tradition. Its first abbot was a Chinese monk; later, Vietnamese Mahayana monks took over its care. It is one of the few Chinese-style temples in Kanchanaburi Province and stands right next to the Tiger Cave Temple, Wat Tham Suea.
What you will experience
Inside, murals, tapestries and koi ponds create a calm, colourful world. Figures of the round-bellied laughing Buddha – a symbol of happiness – stand beside images of Chinese deities. A spiral staircase leads up the seven-tiered pagoda to the top platform, one of the finest viewpoints in the area.
Good to know
- The climb up the pagoda involves narrow stairs.
- Please cover shoulders and knees and remove your shoes where requested.
On these cruises
You visit the Khao Noi Cave Temple on the following RV River Kwai cruises:
- 7D/6N River Kwai Heritage Cruise – Day 1 (Monday)
- 4D/3N River Kwai Cruise (upstream) – Day 1 (Monday)
- 4D/3N River Kwai Cruise (downstream) – Day 1 (Thursday)
Compare all River Kwai cruises
