Phra Borom That Chedi Kanchanaphisek

Phra Borom That Chedi Kanchanaphisek is a white stepped chedi on Khao Kho, built in 1996 to mark King Rama IX’s Golden Jubilee — 50 years on the throne — and to honour those who died in the fighting between the Thai army and Communist insurgents that took place on this mountain through the 1970s and early 1980s. Its architecture blends Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, and Rattanakosin elements, and Buddha relics brought from Sri Lanka are enshrined near the top. Entry is free and there’s no fixed opening hours.

The chedi’s tiers step upward around a white-walled core with gilded decorative trim rather than a solid gold surface — the “Kanchanaphisek” in the name refers to the reign anniversary being celebrated, not the building’s colour. Steps wrap the base, and a walkway around the lower level gives close views of the stucco relief work. Smaller shrine buildings nearby hold Buddha images in various postures, with offerings of flowers and incense left at their feet. From the chedi’s platform, Phetchabun’s mountain ridgelines run out in layers toward the horizon, and on cool-season mornings the lower valleys often fill with mist below the summit line.

Insider Tip: Time a visit for shortly after sunrise in the November-February cool season — that’s when the valley mist below Khao Kho is thickest and the chedi’s white walls catch the earliest light before the day’s haze builds up.

The chedi sits within Khao Kho’s cluster of monuments built around the same insurgency history and Rama IX commemorations, and pairs naturally with a wider loop of the district rather than standing as an isolated stop.

Watch out: The mountain road up to Khao Kho has tight switchbacks with limited passing room — drive it in daylight if you’re not used to mountain roads, and expect a noticeably colder, windier platform at the top than the drive up suggests.

Temperatures drop fast after dark at this elevation, so bring a layer if you’re staying for sunset. Dress modestly (covered shoulders and knees) and remove shoes before entering any of the shrine buildings — standard temple etiquette applies here even though this is a memorial chedi rather than a working wat.