Phra That Hin Kio at Don Din Chi

A Buddhist chedi barely 2.5 metres tall balances on top of a huge, narrow-necked boulder at Phra That Hin Kio, in Ban Wang Takhian village outside Mae Sot. Villagers named the rock Hin Phra In Khwaen — “Indra’s hanging stone” — because its base has eroded so thin it looks ready to split. Entry is free, and the site sits about 20 km from central Mae Sot in Tha Sai Luat subdistrict, which borders Myanmar.

The chedi itself is Mon in style, built directly onto the crown of the rock rather than beside it, which is what makes the site unusual rather than merely scenic. A glass cabinet on site holds a Buddha footprint, and inside the chedi is a relic locally known as Phaya Long, venerated by people from Tak and surrounding provinces. An ancient wooden boat, estimated at around 200 years old, sits on the temple grounds — a reminder that this stretch of the Moei River valley has been settled for generations. Steps lead up the outcrop to the chedi’s base, and from there the view opens across farmland toward the hills that mark the border.

Insider Tip: The site holds its biggest fair every February, when worshippers climb to the chedi to pay respects — expect more visitors and vendors than on a typical weekday.

Watch out: The path up to the rock is uneven natural stone, not a paved staircase. Flat, grippy shoes make the short climb much easier, especially after rain.

Getting here means driving Highway 105 from Mae Sot through Ban Tha At to Ban Wang Takhian, then following signposted turns for roughly 3 km to the chedi — there’s no public bus or songthaew route, so a rented car, motorbike, or taxi is the only realistic option. The border proximity doesn’t affect access to the temple itself; the nearest crossing point is a separate location within the same subdistrict. Combine the visit with the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge or Si Fa Cave, both also in Mae Sot district, and see the Mae Sot hub for more of the area’s temples and border-town sights.