Yet another hell temple? Sure, why not?!
On our way to Phuket we stopped in Phang Nga at Wat Tham Ta Pan, the hell temple sometimes called the Heaven and Hell Tapan Cave. Like many other hell temples seen across Thailand, the goal here is to show the devout or the laity what happens to you in the afterlife if you’ve accrued bad karma in this life.
They’re situated in the center of a circular pond — go on, throw your coins into their alms bowls. A good chance to make merit.
There’s little to see until you enter the dragon’s mouth — a great place to take a selfie if that’s your thing. Walk through the dimly-lit corridor and emerge at the top of a small hill and you’ll come across the first of the hellish creatures.
One awesome-looking skull, though you can bet that’s not a character you’d actually want to come across in the Buddhist underworld.
While donations are usually placed in a metal box near a statue, this place seemed a bit different from most hell temples.
One of the most common punishments seen at hell temple involves being forced to climb a spike-filled tree — punishment for deviants.
Some of the punishments being inflicted — the statues might be a little disappointing compared to some of the other hell temples around. In fact, this is probably one of the smallest hell temples by statue count…
…but sometimes it ain’t about the quantity.
This guy was lots of fun as well. He was one of twelve Eastern zodiac animals holding some offerings for the Buddha.
The Buddha and an ascetic, among some of the closed-off buildings.
We didn’t actually make it to the Tapan cave, thanks in part to a downpour that was determined to spoil our day. I’m told there are Gibbon monkeys in that area near the cave and staircase, but we didn’t get to them. We also saw very little of the ‘heaven’ part of this ‘heaven and hell’ temple — as a result, we left feeling a little disappointed with this one. Certainly not every hell temple can be filled with dozens of gruesome-looking statues guaranteed to make you ask for your brown pants… but they should all at least try! If you happen to be passing through Phang Nga, give it a visit — otherwise, pass.
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Name: Wat Tapan AKA Wat Tham Ta Pan AKA Tapan Cave
Address: Tham Ta Pan Bureau of Monks, Tambon Tai Chang , Mueang Phang-nga District, Phang-nga Province 82000 (สำนักสงฆ์ถ้ำตาปาน ต.ท้ายช้าง อ.เมืองพังงา จ.พังงา 82000) (GPS: 8.453939,98.528078)
Directions: From the Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Park (near the intersection of route 4 / Phetkasem road and route 415) in Phang Nga, head northeast on route 4 / Phetkasem road for about 3km. Stay straight through the roundabout, pass the hospital on your left, then look for the first left as the road curves to the left. This is Thamtapan Alley — stay straight for 400 meters and look for the temple to your right.
Hours: open 24/7
Admission: free
Phone: none
Website: none
