Wat Thepnimit - Chiang Khong

DavidFL

0
Staff member
Subscribed
Jan 16, 2003
14,428
5,260
113
70
Chiang Khong
www.thegtrider.com
5.5 kms north of Chiang Khong on R1290 - Paradise Road - on the top of a steep hill overlooking the Mekong, there is some massive construction going on for an amazing new temple complex to be.

upload_2020-2-9_16-27-38.png


The turn off on R1290
upload_2020-2-9_16-28-22.png


It may not look much but it is an incredible steep road up the hill
upload_2020-2-9_16-40-16.png


A view from part of the way up
upload_2020-2-9_16-40-55.png


There are multiple steep concrete options to take & it can be a bit confusing the first time, but they all lead to amazing panoramic views.

upload_2020-2-9_16-41-8.png



upload_2020-2-9_16-43-30.png


upload_2020-2-9_16-43-43.png


A bird's eye view of Paradise Road - R1290
upload_2020-2-9_16-44-6.png


upload_2020-2-9_16-44-43.png


Up another level
upload_2020-2-9_16-45-2.png



upload_2020-2-9_16-45-18.png


On another fork the road leads to a huge chedi being built that you can see from afar on R1290.
The construction up close is interesting.
upload_2020-2-9_16-46-53.png


upload_2020-2-9_16-47-4.png


Inside the chedi
upload_2020-2-9_16-47-25.png


upload_2020-2-9_16-47-37.png


The cool pully operator job
upload_2020-2-9_16-47-59.png


You can go up another level & road to get this view - a photo from January 2018
upload_2020-2-9_17-4-41.png


Wat Thepnimit is being built by the same famous abbot who built Wat Analayo in Phayao, & Wat Chalerm Prakiet @ Chae Hom, Lampang. He is highly revered & is able to get support to build magnificent, spectacular temples.

Wat Analayo
Wat Analayo

Chiang Mai - Nan explorer ride.

Wat Chalerm Prakiet @ Chae Hom
Climbing To Phra Bat Pupha Dang Temple

Wat Chalermprakiet, Tha Chumphu Bridge & Khun Tan Station (highest Railway Station In Thailand)

Wat Thepnimit is on the new GTR GT map
upload_2020-2-9_17-23-2.png


Google Maps Location: Google Maps

You could check out Wat Thepnimit with an easy cruisy day trip / ride along the Mekong, checking out a few wats on the Chiang Khong - Chiang Saen river road.
Chiang Khong - A Sunday Ride - "wat Along The Khong."
 

Wazza

Ol'Timer
Subscribed
Sep 17, 2017
83
21
8
65
Thanks David,
I read one of your other Chiang Khong threads and have been meaning to ask this exact question, what is this place near the 46km marker?
Last Xmas the wife and I were staying in Chiang Saen and did a day trip looking for new and exciting roads. We went south on the new highway and then cut east on the 1098 to the 1174. Then north to CK for lunch.
We then followed the coast road past the port and as far as we could upstream, nice quite picturesque little road by the way.
Not long after and VR46 is my reminder, the 46 km marker is between the entrance/exit to this place.
Wonderful views of the Khong, really steep and a little peculiar. Once heading up, the first turn right takes you to a deserted, substantial building and some other derilect structures.
Carry on up the hill and there was a large house for the well healed. Mercs , Jags etc and the suitably attired.
Then the road got really steep until it turned to dirt further up the hill. There was a Wat or similar being constructed.
We exited the way we came in and noted (VR)46 and the other entrance/exit a bit further up the road as we headed back to Chiang Saen. It definitely worth the short side trip for the view.
Cheers Wazza
 
  • Like
Reactions: Eoin Christie

DavidFL

0
Staff member
Subscribed
Jan 16, 2003
14,428
5,260
113
70
Chiang Khong
www.thegtrider.com
Thanks David,
I read one of your other Chiang Khong threads and have been meaning to ask this exact question, what is this place near the 46km marker?
Last Xmas the wife and I were staying in Chiang Saen and did a day trip looking for new and exciting roads. We went south on the new highway and then cut east on the 1098 to the 1174. Then north to CK for lunch.
We then followed the coast road past the port and as far as we could upstream, nice quite picturesque little road by the way.
Not long after and VR46 is my reminder, the 46 km marker is between the entrance/exit to this place.
Wonderful views of the Khong, really steep and a little peculiar. Once heading up, the first turn right takes you to a deserted, substantial building and some other derilect structures.
Carry on up the hill and there was a large house for the well healed. Mercs , Jags etc and the suitably attired.
Then the road got really steep until it turned to dirt further up the hill. There was a Wat or similar being constructed.
We exited the way we came in and noted (VR)46 and the other entrance/exit a bit further up the road as we headed back to Chiang Saen. It definitely worth the short side trip for the view.
Cheers Wazza

Well I guess you went up this road?
upload_2020-2-9_16-28-22-png.png


That doesn't ring a bell?
 

Wazza

Ol'Timer
Subscribed
Sep 17, 2017
83
21
8
65
That’s precisely the road we went up on and exited out of. Continue on up the main drag was the 46k marker and what looked like another entrance/exit to the hill above. We didn’t venture up, just noted it as a possible.
There’s so much exploring to be had when you’re on your pat malone or with just your partner, and have the time to follow your nose. Wonder where this road goes??.....
I’ve got lots of mates that have bought adventure bikes, mid size, big to biggest. After riding Northern Thailand now 8 times, the thought of riding to Birdsville, the Cape or BF nowhere again, makes me shiver. I do it in the course of earning a living driving around the NT in a 4wd, airconditioned, for great money. Interesting scenery and have never scene an adventure bike out in country.
And it’s beyond most of them to concede Thailand looks like good riding. Ah well, more for us.
 

DavidFL

0
Staff member
Subscribed
Jan 16, 2003
14,428
5,260
113
70
Chiang Khong
www.thegtrider.com
That’s precisely the road we went up on and exited out of. Continue on up the main drag was the 46k marker and what looked like another entrance/exit to the hill above. We didn’t venture up, just noted it as a possible.
There’s so much exploring to be had when you’re on your pat malone or with just your partner, and have the time to follow your nose. Wonder where this road goes??.....
I’ve got lots of mates that have bought adventure bikes, mid size, big to biggest. After riding Northern Thailand now 8 times, the thought of riding to Birdsville, the Cape or BF nowhere again, makes me shiver. I do it in the course of earning a living driving around the NT in a 4wd, airconditioned, for great money. Interesting scenery and have never scene an adventure bike out in country.
And it’s beyond most of them to concede Thailand looks like good riding. Ah well, more for us.

I will have to go look for the VR46 kms marker, as I'm not clear enough where you are.
Paradise road is 82kms
upload_2020-6-23_23-23-32.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: Eoin Christie

DavidFL

0
Staff member
Subscribed
Jan 16, 2003
14,428
5,260
113
70
Chiang Khong
www.thegtrider.com
An update 4th Feb 2021.
The big chedi on the hill is still going up.

It was like this February 2020
upload_2020-2-9_16-46-53-png.134372


And now looks like this
1614016476258.png


1614016494819.png


The sala viewpoint that was under construction in Feb 2020
upload_2020-2-9_16-43-30-png.134366


is now complete
1614016591785.png


1614017930171.png


The road up the hill is still a beauty, steep & winding
1614016855577.png



and the views magnificent
1614017014689.png


1614017047559.png


Take a look sometime.
you won't be disappointed.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Eoin Christie