Hor Phra Kao Ke Ji

Hor Phra Kao Ke Ji is a shrine pavilion on a hillside in Ranong town, built in 1982 to mark Bangkok’s bicentennial and holding statues of nine revered monks rather than a temple’s usual central Buddha image. The name translates roughly as the Shrine of the Nine Masters — “kechi” (เกจิ) being the Thai term for a senior monk whose teachings or reputed powers are widely respected. Entry is free, and the shrine sits close to Rattanarangsi Palace, with a view over the town from its entrance.

Eight of the nine monks honoured here are tied to temples across Ranong province — among them Luangpho Ban Phuttharo of Wat Uppanantharam, Luangpho Jan of Wat Jantharam in Kraburi, and Luangpho Noi of Wat Had Som Paen — figures known locally rather than nationally. The ninth is the exception: Luangpho Thuat of Wat Chang Hai in Pattani, one of the most widely venerated monks in southern Thai Buddhism, whose amulets and legends circulate well beyond the south. Grouping a nationally famous monk alongside eight provincial ones in a single shrine says something about how Ranong understood its own religious landscape in the early 1980s — reaching for both local devotion and a recognisable national name.

The shrine itself is modest, built more like a small chapel than a temple complex, and set among trees on the hillside rather than surrounded by the courtyards typical of a full wat. Visitors come to light incense and pay respects to the nine images, with more visitors gathering on Buddhist holy days for prayer. There’s no separate museum or exhibition hall attached — this is a working shrine, not a curated heritage site, so the experience is quieter and shorter than the description on some listings might suggest.

Insider Tip: Come in the late afternoon for the hillside view over Ranong town in softer light, rather than the exact commute-hour crush around Rattanarangsi Palace at the base of the hill.

Watch out: This is an active place of worship on a residential hillside, not a tourist attraction with signage or facilities — there’s little English information on site, so knowing the story of the nine monks before you arrive (rather than expecting to learn it there) makes the visit worthwhile.

The shrine sits within Ranong town itself. The Ranong City Pillar Shrine is a short trip away and makes a natural pairing for a short heritage circuit, and Ranong Canyon is a straightforward add-on elsewhere in town for visitors with a little more time.