Wat Ban Tham

According to local chronicles, Wat Ban Tham was founded during the ancient Sukhothai period. The legend begins with a wealthy merchant who chanced upon this massive, breathtaking mountaintop cavern. He discovered that the cave featured a natural sky vent that provided exceptional sunlight and a constant, cool breeze, making it feel wonderfully refreshed, almost like a modern air-conditioned room.

Deeply impressed, the merchant invited a highly revered monk named Luang Pho Thong to become the temple’s very first abbot. Luang Pho Thong was legendary for his mastery of spiritual arts and Buddhist incantations. He famously kept a pet Sarika (magpie) bird and patiently trained it to speak human language—a lineage of birds that locals say still inhabits the cave to this day. Guided and inspired by Luang Pho Thong’s spiritual teachings, the wealthy merchant’s faith grew so immensely that he funded the construction of a colossal Buddha statue inside the cave. Modeled after the famous Phra Phuttha Chinnarat, the statue stands over 5 meters tall and is finished with traditional black lacquer and brilliant gold leaf.

The Secret Tunnel & The Hidden Realm

Luang Pho Thong possessed extraordinary meditative powers. He was able to spiritually traverse a secret, deep rock crevice inside the cave, traveling completely inside the mountain range to emerge at the Khao Tok Tham Mangkon Thong cave, located nearly 10 kilometers away. Upon arrival, he would bathe in a sacred lotus pond, gather a bundle of precisely 20 lotus flowers, and journey back, returning exactly as his incense timer finished.

This subterranean mountain path was treacherous; it could only be navigated by those with immense meditative focus and absolute moral purity. Deep beneath the mountains lay a breathtaking hidden world filled with pristine landscapes, white sand beaches, and the mythical secret villages of the Mueang Laplae (The Hidden or Invisible Realm). Those who traveled through had to be strictly honest and virtuous. Anyone lacking virtue would be swiftly attacked by a fierce ogress who stood guard at the gateway.

The Novice Monk’s Fatal Curiosity

Years passed, and the merchant’s son grew into a young man. The merchant placed his son under the guidance of Luang Pho Thong, and the boy was ordained as a novice monk. Over time, the young novice noticed the abbot entering the secret mountain passage every day and begged to join him. Although Luang Pho Thong repeatedly warned him of the dangers, the novice insisted.

Finally, the abbot agreed, but under one strict covenant:

“No matter what you see along the way, you must remain absolutely silent. Walk with total mindfulness, follow directly in my footsteps, and do not let your mind be enticed or distracted by anything you encounter.”

The novice gave his solemn word, and they began their descent. Thanks to his advanced spiritual mastery, Luang Pho Thong walked smoothly past the gateway of the Hidden Realm. However, the young novice followed behind with an unsteady mind. Sensing a stranger, the guardian ogress decided to test him. She transformed herself into an exceptionally beautiful young maiden and greeted the novice with sweet, enchanting words.

Falling instantly into temptation, the young novice lost his meditative focus. Captivated by her beauty, he began to flirt and make inappropriate advances. Through this test, the ogress knew the novice lacked both the virtue and honesty required to pass through the sacred gates. She ordered him to turn back, but the novice refused and tried to push past her to catch up with the abbot. In a flash of rage, the maiden reverted to her true, terrifying ogress form, lunged forward, and snapped the novice’s neck.

The Sealed Passage & The Birth of the Lower Temple

Deep within the hidden village, Luang Pho Thong waited for a long time. Realizing something terrible must have happened, he retraced his steps and discovered the lifeless body of the novice. The guardian ogress revealed the truth: the boy had broken his sacred vow and violated his moral precepts, paying for the transgression with his life. Filled with compassion, Luang Pho Thong implored the ogress to restore the boy’s spirit.

The novice revived, and the abbot immediately escorted him back to the main cave. From that day forward, the novice fell mysteriously ill. Exactly seven days later, he passed away. Only Luang Pho Thong knew the true cause of his death, but to prevent mass panic and further tragedy, he kept the spiritual encounter a secret. The abbot permanently sealed the secret tunnel with a massive stone barrier, ensuring no one would ever wander in again, and he himself never entered the mountain depths again. Over the centuries, natural stalactites grew over the entrance, completely sealing the path and leaving only a faint trace of the doorway visible today.

Grief-stricken by the loss of his son, the wealthy merchant feared that future generations ordaining in the high cave might meet a similar tragic fate. He consequently ordered workmen to construct a brand-new temple complex safely down at the base of the hill, right at the foot of the cave. This sanctuary became known as “Wat Ban Tham,” just as it stands today.

Traces of the Invisible Realm

To this day, mysterious tales of Mueang Laplae endure. Local villagers frequently tell stories of people occasionally losing their way and accidentally stumbling into this hidden world. Furthermore, it is said that during years of exceptionally heavy rainfall, a majestic waterfall forms behind the temple as water rushes down the mountain valleys. Locals often find fresh betel nut shells, pomelo peels, and exotic jungle fruits floating down the stream—items firmly believed to be discarded remnants from the residents of the Invisible Realm floating down to the human world.

Source: “The History of Wat Ban Tham” (5th Edition, May 2010)