Wat Tham Khao Pun

The Japanese Army had a hospital (Khao Poon hospital) at the rear of the temple by the river during World War II. The Limestone Cave temple is an old temple. King Chulalongkorn brought a visit to the cave in 1870 in order to worship the reclining Buddha in the cave. The cave has 9 rooms: Phra Buddha Saiyas room (room of the Reclining Buddha), Ja-Ae room, Mai Dern room (walking stick), Soi Yoi room (Weeping fig tree), Jorrakae room (Crocodile room), Phor Poe Reussi room (ascetic room), Thape Ni-Mitra room (God vision room), Kaew room (Crystal room) and the Thape Prasittisopol room. The temple became defamed after the murder on British tourist Johanne Masheder by a 22 year old, amphetamine addicted, monk on 10 Dec 1995. The monk was defrocked after his arrest on January 14, the same day the decomposed and partly burnt body of the woman was found in a cave near the Khao Poon Temple. The ex-monk was charged with attempted rape, robbery and murder. He was handed down the death sentence on 31 January 1997, which was commuted to life prison on 09 Jun 97 under a royal pardon on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of King Bhumibol’s ascension to the throne.

Ayutthaya Historical Research