A Hidden Paradise in Thailand’s Deep Mountains: The Sky-Blue Temple Known as “The Closest Place to Heaven”

▲ The stunning reclining Buddha temple in Thailand’s mountainous border region, with its romantic Tiffany-blue rooftop set against solemn grandeur. (Photo / Reporter Zhou Chengeng)

 ▲ Live from the Thai hidden paradise – Peak of the Gods!

Reporter Cai Wenjun / Reported and photographed in Thailand

Have you ever imagined what heaven looks like? Nestled atop an 800-meter-high mountain in Udon Thani on Thailand’s border lies a secret “Peak of the Gods.” Surrounded by dense green jungles stands a shimmering Tiffany-blue reclining Buddha temple—majestic, serene, and romantic—so captivating that it has been listed among Thailand’s 12 most hidden paradises, and ishailed as “the closest place to heaven.”.

▲ Piyawan Wirawan, founder of this stunning reclining Buddha temple. (Photo / Reporter Zhou Chengeng)

The actual name of this Peak of the Gods temple is“WAT PA PHU KHON”. Its founder, Piyawan Wirawan, said she was initially inspired after seeing a wealthy businessman who, despite having no lack of material comforts, ended up lonely and isolated in old age. This made her question whether she might face a similar fate in the future, prompting deep self-reflection. Later, following guidance from monks, she came to meditate in the mountains of Udon Thani. There, she found that local monks had no proper shelter, so she decided to apply for a permit from the Thai government to build a temple where monks could live—and where she hoped both she and visitors could find spiritual solace.

▲ To walk onto the sacred shrine, you must first take off your shoes and socks. (Photo / Reporter Zhou Chengeng)

▲ The main shrine housing the closed-eyes reclining Buddha. (Photo / Reporter Zhou Chengeng)

To reach the shrine square, visitors must remove their shoes and socks and ascend barefoot up the steps to the temple plaza. In front of them stretches the glistening Tiffany-blue temple roof under the sunlight. Piyawan Wirawan explained that since the temple is situated on a mountaintop, the goal was to harmonize with the sky, so the rooftop and beams were painted blue and white. This adds a touch of romance to the solemnity, and the breathtaking view has earned it the nickname “heaven on earth” among locals.

▲ The entrance is positioned slightly to the left to allow the face of the reclining Buddha to face the sky. (Photo / Reporter Zhou Chengeng)

▲ The entire closed-eyes reclining Buddha statue is about 20 meters long. (Photo / Reporter Zhou Chengeng)

Inside the shrine, a 20-meter-long, 9-meter-high closed-eyes reclining Buddha is enshrined. Piyawan Wirawan noted that when she first arrived, she noticed the shape of the mountain resembled a reclining Buddha, which inspired her to build the temple. The marble used for the reclining Buddha was specially imported from Italy—it’s the highest-grade available—and then transported all the way up the mountain. The temple gate was intentionally placed on the left side so that the face of the Buddha directly faces the sky, allowing visitors entering from the door to see the majestic visage of the Buddha right away.

▲ A solemn full view of the closed-eyes reclining Buddha (Video / Reporter Cai Wenjun)

Building a temple at such high altitude was incredibly challenging. WAT PA PHU KHON took six years and nearly 600 million Thai baht to complete. It was eventually presented as a gift to the royal family on the occasion of King Rama IX’s 84th birthday, and only later opened to visitors.

This hidden paradise of the Peak of the Gods is located in Thailand’s northeastern border province of Udon Thani. Visitors can fly to Loei Airport and transfer by car, taking around three hours. For those who prefer a private car and guided tour, a Taiwan-operated travel agency in Thailand called AK TRAVEL currently offers this itinerary. For details, visithttp://www.akhousebkk.com/font/index.php.