Like many other hell temples in Thailand, Wat Puet Udom (also spelled Wat Pheut Udom, Peuch Udom, and Wat Phut Udom) is a graphic look into Buddhist hell and intriguing look into Buddhist beliefs. It’s not for the faint of heart, however — somewhere in this heaping pile of skeletons and animals is a person getting eaten and torn apart.
Go on, ride the rooster. You know you want to. One of the enforcers from the underworld is on top, though I’m not sure why he’s riding it.
Meander around the temple grounds for awhile (which were partially under construction during our visit), but head downstairs into the large mouth to go under the temple and enter hell:
The sign reads like the beginning of a video game. Tall people will want to watch their heads while walking around this low-ceilinged area.
Designed with good intentions, there’s a fair bit more English here than at other hell temples.
A decapitated head hanging from a rope, anyone?
Getting pecked to death? The person was probably a cheater in their past life.
One of the most common punishments seen at hell temples is being forced to climb a prickly tree for being adulterous or promiscuous.
Telling lies or deceiving others? That’s a tongue-cutting for you.
The octopus? I got nothing.
One of the panels / dioramas still in decent shape — about half of them have worn off English or pictures.
My exit and a possible entrance for others — not exactly a pair of eyes that beckons you to enter…
Not sure which is worse here — being eaten by multiple types of animals or being sawed to death…
Just a few of the lovely temptations aiming to lead you astray from the right way…
A robot that wais passersby — just a little on the creepy side.
It’s creepy, gory, and all kinds of fun — a great half-day trip from Bangkok (but read the directions below carefully — this place is not the easiest to reach).
Name: Wat Puet Udom (also spelled Wat Peuch Udom, Wat Phuet Udom, Wat Phut Udom, and วัดพืชอุดม)
Address: 25/5 Moo 9 Tambon Lam Sai, Lam Luk Ka District, Pathum Thani Province 12150 (25/5 หมู่ 9 ต.ลำไทร อ.ลำลูกกา, จ.ปทุมธานี 12150) (GPS: 13.9568012,100.8867223)
Directions: Forget about using public transportation to arrive unless you have the patience of five monks. Your best bet is to get a bus towards Rangsit Future Park — from Ari or Mo Chit BTS, bus 39 is one option, but any bus going north on Phahon Yothin (route 1) is fair game. Get off at Lam Luk Ka road (route 3312), which is about 4km north of the Air Force Academy and Don Mueang Airport. Once at Lam Luk Ka road, walk right to jump in a taxi to reach Wat Puet Udom. From here, it’s about a 17km straight shot, which by the meter should cost between 180–200 baht. I’ll note that white bus 6250 and a blue-and-white bus 374 were seen along Lam Luk Ka road, though I can’t speak to their schedules or frequency.
The easiest option, however, is simply to ask your hotel concierge / front desk to book a two-way taxi ride from wherever you happen to be staying.
Hours: dawn to dusk
Admission: free
Phone: none
Website: none
