Wat Ratchakhiri Hiranyaram

Wat Ratchakhiri Hiranyaram sits on top of Khao Samo Kalong, a hill about 14 km from Phitsanulok city via Highway 12, and is better known locally as the White Jade Guanyin Temple. The name comes from a 3-metre-tall, 3-tonne white jade statue of Guanyin — the Chinese Buddhist Bodhisattva of Mercy — carved from jade quarried in Hangzhou, China, and enshrined here in 1992 with special authorisation from the Chinese government. Entry is free, and the temple sees a steady mix of Thai-Chinese pilgrims and local worshippers rather than tour buses.

The temple’s own history predates the statue by decades. What is now a working monastery was an abandoned temple site until monks re-established residence here in 1953. On the western side of the hill, Buddha-footprint carvings are cut into the cliff face, and an annual veneration ceremony each mid-March draws worshippers from around the province — worth checking the dates if you want to see the temple at its most active rather than at its quietest. The grounds cover roughly 230 rai across the hilltop, giving the compound a spread-out, unhurried feel compared to temples squeezed into city blocks.

Insider Tip: Visit early — before 9 AM — for two reasons: the jade Guanyin statue photographs best in soft morning light, and the hilltop has little shade once the sun is high.

Watch out: The compound sits on open hilltop ground with minimal tree cover across most of the walking route to the statue. Bring water and a hat; there’s no shaded queue or waiting area the way there is at larger temple complexes.

Getting there without a car means catching a songthaew or taxi from Phitsanulok city, a roughly 30-minute ride along Highway 12 toward Lom Sak. The turnoff comes about 3 km before you reach Wang Thong district centre, followed by a 500-metre climb up the hill road. As with any Thai temple, dress modestly — covered shoulders, long trousers — and remove shoes before entering any of the halls. There’s no ticket booth or fixed opening hours in the way a museum has them; like most rural temples, the grounds are accessible from early morning until early evening, and a donation box near the main shrine supports the resident monks.