Wat Huay Mongkol
What Else to See at Wat Huay Mongkol?
Surrounding the statue is a Thai-style pavilion dedicated to the spirits of teak trees, behind which you will see an enormous fallen teak tree believed to have magical powers. Worshippers gather here, pray with incense sticks and ask for their wishes to be fulfilled. This is partly the animist belief in nature as the guardian spirit; every tree, rock, plant, river, mountain, and basically every piece of nature, is supposedly protected by its own guardian spirit who has the power to grant wishes or evoke disasters (should you intentionally damage it).
There’s also a small elephant sanctuary, a lake and sunflower fields (in January) on the same ground. It’s a good idea to combine your temple visit with Pa La-U Waterfall, which is further down Highway 3218.