Wat Huay Mongkol

วัดห้วยมงคล

A countryside temple about 15 km west of Hua Hin, home to Thailand's largest seated statue of Luang Pu Thuat, a revered monk. It's a pilgrimage site for people seeking safety and safe journeys.

Wat Huay Mongkol is located in Huay Mongkol village, about 15 km west of Hua Hin. The temple itself has a short history, but it has become one of central Thailand's most popular pilgrimage sites because of a seated statue of the monk Luang Pu Thuat, about 12 m high and 10 m wide, completed around 2004. Luang Pu Thuat was a southern monk of the 16th to 17th centuries, said to have been able to make seawater fresh and to protect believers from misfortune. Thai drivers, seafarers and businesspeople therefore revere him in particular. At the temple, worshippers often offer flowers, apply gold leaf, circle the statue three times, and crawl beneath the giant wooden elephant sculpture to pray for safety. The temple square is spacious, surrounded by rice paddies and mountains. There are two wooden elephant statues you can walk around, a small shrine hall, a field of wishing bells, and vendors selling amulets; the Luang Pu Thuat amulet is one of Thailand's best-known Buddhist amulets. Entry is free, and the temple is open roughly 05:00 to 21:00. A visit takes about 45 minutes. It pairs well with Khao Wang Palace or the Monsoon Valley Vineyard on the western side of Hua Hin (about 10 km) for a half-day trip, or you can come in the late afternoon to see the Buddha at sunset. Getting there: hire a car or take a Grab from central Hua Hin, about 25 minutes (roughly 300 to 400 baht one way). There is no public transport, but Hua Hin day tours often include it. Note: you must remove your shoes and cover your shoulders and knees before entering the statue platform. Amulets and protective charms are offered by donation, so you don't need to buy an expensive 'consecrated' amulet.

Wat Huay Mongkol

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