My wife and I have kind of a thing for hell temples.
We’ve come across several around Thailand, and the list will only get longer as we hear of more. If this is the first one you’ve read about, a hell temple (or hell garden) is built to show what will happen to you in Buddhist hell if you’re bad in this life. Some are far more graphic (and thus carry the NSFW tag for good reason), thanks to more vivid colors or more exposed genitals. That said, this place remains comfortably bizarre, but not over-the-top in gore. The dinosaurs by the entrance are a nice touch — and a sign of things to come.
While much of the symbolism and deities continues to go over my head, it’s definitely a site that has a few generations worth of statues. On your way in are some wonderfully colorful images to take in.
Yeah, got nothing.
It’s a little hard to see, but there’s a Buddhist image inside the mouth. This is one of a few rows that lead from the entrance to the central part of the temple. Whichever one you use to approach, be sure to take a different one as you leave.
There’s plenty to see in this central area — if you’re lucky, you might meet Lungpu Khampan, the octogenarian abbot who inspired it all. A few other tourists were around, but we found ourselves almost alone as we approached the entrance to the hell temple:
It’s not quite ‘abandon hope all ye who enter’, but the area definitely takes on a more somber attitude.
For the second time at a temple, I got nothing. There’s sort of a serene look on their faces, too…
At hell temples (or hell gardens), the statues emphasize your punishment fitting your sins in this life. Animals are sometimes seen praying to a Buddha, but this is one of the the first time I recalled seeing animals tortured in the same ways as the humans.
“Ready…. AXE!” Again, I got nothing.
A common punishment is being disemboweled, and the execution (pun intended) varies a little bit by place.
Believe it or not, you can bring your kids here without too much worry — the ‘hell’ part of this hell temple is somewhat segregated from the rest of the temple (everything objectionable is hidden behind the entrance of skulls and a wall). The dinosaurs and other animals are mainly out front by the entrance, and the Buddha images are plentiful as well.
Name: Wat Pa Non Sawan (วัดป่าโนนสวรรค์)
Address: Ban Thoet Thai, Tambon thoet Thai, Thung Khao Luang, Roi Et (GPS: 15.974461, 103.852262)
Directions: You’ll need some wheels for this one. From Roi Et city in eastern Thailand, head east on route 23, called Chaeng Sanit rd. Go about 17.5 km from where route 23 crosses over the Nuea canal, and look for a right turn. There’s no real landmark here, but you might see a blue sign all in Thai to help. In any case, you’ll go about 8 km along this unnamed road and make another right turn — you’re getting close when you pass the Ban Thoet Thai school. Make two quick rights, then a left at the T — you’ll see it on your right.
Hours: 6am-5pm
Admission: free
Phone: 081–060–0723
Website: no official website
