This temple contains several structures including an elaborate bell-shaped pagoda called Chedi Phutthathambanlue. The hilltop pagoda overlooks surrounding undulating mountains and hills as well as a huge Buddha image and a Guan-yin Chinese Goddess statue.
Wat Bang Riang is an amazing hillside temple which is perched high in the mountains in Phang Nga Province.
I must admit Wat Bang Riang, also known as Wat Rat Uppatham was not on the top of my list of things to see when we were travelling around Phang Nga.
However my other half had other ideas and was quite excited about seeing this temple.
To explain why this temple, or any temple for that matter was not on my list of things to see, was because we had just spent weeks exploring temples in Laos, followed by a stopover to see more temples in Chiang Mai and I was what you could say “templed out”.
We decided to combine our visit to the temple and surrounding sights in Phang Nga Province on the same day we were to leave Khao Lak to drive south to Phuket.
The drive from Khao Lak to Wat Bang Riang took us well over an hour; the roads were good, just a little windy and narrow in parts but very scenic.
After getting lost a couple of times we eventually found the temple and to our amazement there was only one other car in the carpark.
The temple complex is large and well spread out; as you make your way from the carpark to the entrance you will see a large bell shaped Chedi which is called “Phra Mahathat Chedi Phutthathambanlue”.
The base of this massive Chedi is surrounded by niches of golden Buddha images.
Inside the temple is just as impressive as the outside, so don’t forget to go in and have a look around.
On the right hand side of the temple is a large viewing area where you can take in the stunning scenery of Phang Nga and the remarkable images of “Kwan Yin” and the massive seated Buddha further in the distance.