Khao Ta Daeng Viewpoint & Cave

Location : 10.4483322, 99.147062

Khao Ta Daeng Viewpoint and Cave can be found within the grounds of Wat Nong Mok south of Chumphon town. Take road 7 out of town and after 8km you should see the Temple entrance on your left.

Next to the Prayer Hall you will find steps going up Khao Ta Daeng (Red Hill).

At the top of the steps beside the ornate bell tower you get a great view looking westwards.

If you follow the path round to the right you will come to the steps which lead you up to a metal gantry on the top of Khao Ta Daeng.

The gantry is the supporting structure for a stupa and an image of Buddha.

From this high level you have some good views. Sadly a little hazy when we visited for looking southwards you could only just make out the sea. However the best view is towards the west with the Tenasserim Mountain Range in the background.

Popping out of the trees you can see the top of the big stupa at Wat Khao Bo.

Looking north over some trees you can just see the town of Chumphon.

On the hill, in amongst the trees, is this nice Ordination Hall.

And to the right of the steps to the viewpoint is another set of steps that leads up to a cave.

This cave is not that big, nothing of interest and has a Buddha statue within.

Also as the Temple has not been named after the cave have used the name written beside the Buddha's head - ถ้ำวิโมกข์ Vimok Cave.

The 'Caves & Caving in Thailand' website has referenced this as Cave No. CP0149.

Whilst we were in the cave did feel we were being watched.

To the right of the Buddha the cave drops away sharply to an opening some 10m below. Whilst there are wooden steps we did not venture down being unsure how safe they were. Did look around the base of the hill in the hope of find this opening from the other side but were unlucky.

Our photo album - https://photos.app.goo.gl/7os5U3xCi3P1pTy57