- Kind
- Monastery
- Tradition
- Theravada
- Founded
- 1967
- Town
- Chiang Dao
Photo by Alexey Komarov (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0). A pavilion in the forest grounds
Wat Tham Pha Plong stands on a mountainside near Chiang Dao, in Chiang Mai province. Luang Pu Sim Buddhacaro, a student of Ajahn Mun, founded the monastery in 1967. Both Access to Insight and a French travel guide, Routard, give that year.
The usual approach is a climb of about 510 steps through forest, with Buddhist sayings on signboards along the way. Routard describes a rock-shelter sanctuary with a Buddha altar and photographs of Luang Pu Sim, a golden chedi with a view over the Chiang Dao valley, and a small museum of his belongings. The travel guide advises allowing 1.5 to 2 hours, wearing covered clothing and sturdy shoes, and says entry is free, run on donations.
The monastery is also a working community, and Routard links it to vipassanā practice. No official site was found, and none of the sources gives guidance for foreign meditators or overnight stays, so ask at the monastery.
Luang Pu Sim’s talks on “Buddho” and the present moment are translated on Access to Insight. Reading a few before the climb will give the stairway signs more context.
Visiting
Park at the foot of the stairs and walk up, about 1.5 to 2 hours in all. Wear clothing that covers shoulders and knees and sturdy shoes, and remove shoes where asked. No programme for foreign meditators or overnight stays is published.
Teachers
1
Related places
2
Nearby
within 150 km, straight line
Read more
Sources and verification
2
Written from published sources by the volunteer editors. Not yet reviewed by an outside advisor.
- ReferenceRoutard: Wat Tham Pha Plong (founding in 1967 by Luang Pu Sim, the stairway, shrine and museum, visitor notes)
- ArchiveAccess to Insight: Dhamma Teachings of Looang Boo Sim Buddhacaro (founded a monastery in the mountains of Chiang Dao in 1967)
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