Wat Rat Uppatham (Wat Bang Riang)

Wat Rat Uppatham — almost always called Wat Bang Riang locally — sits on a hilltop in Thap Put district, Phang Nga, about 20 minutes south of Phang Nga town. Entry is free and the grounds are open daily from roughly 08:00 to 17:00.

The temple’s centrepiece is Phra Mahathat Chedi Phutthathambanlue, a bell-shaped golden chedi around 109 metres tall, its base ringed with niches holding gilded Buddha images. From the car park, a staircase guarded by two five-headed naga serpents climbs to the upper terraces, where a huge golden standing Buddha shares the hilltop with what’s commonly described as the tallest statue of Guanyin — the Chinese Buddhist deity of mercy — in southern Thailand, plus a scatter of smaller Guanyin figures nearby. Stone lions, elephants and mythical birds line the approach alongside Chinese-style dragon carvings, a mix that reflects Phang Nga’s long-standing Thai-Chinese community rather than a single architectural tradition.

Because the temple is built up rather than restored — it’s a modern complex, not an archaeological site — the surfaces are clean-lined and the scale is the draw as much as any historical detail. The hilltop position gives unobstructed views over Thap Put’s hills and farmland in most directions, best in the early morning or late afternoon when the heat has eased and the light is softer for photos.

Insider Tip: The staircase to the upper terraces has no shade for most of its length — climb before 9am or after 4pm to avoid the worst of the midday sun, and bring water even for a short visit.

Watch out: The stairs are steep and cover multiple flights with few resting points; if mobility is a concern, budget extra time and take breaks at the landings rather than pushing straight to the top.

Dress modestly with covered shoulders and knees, and remove footwear before entering any building housing Buddha images. Bring comfortable shoes for the staircase — sandals work poorly on the worn stone steps. The temple sits on the Khok Charoen-Bang Riang Road, close to community-tourism stops like Ban Bang Phat and Ban Kok Krai Community Tourism if you’re building out a full day in Thap Put district.