Information and Directions:
Wat Chaloemrat(วัดเฉลิมราษฏร์)is located West of Kuiburi in Prachuap Khiri Khan province. The Wat is a common Wat and there is some new building work taking place on the hilltop ubosoth. Although difficult to tell the Bot/Ubosoth could be new or in the process of being refurbished. Since there were no visible Bai Sema markers it seems more likely that this is a new project although due to the weathered state of the building it may have been there for some length of time.
The Ubosoth is raised about 200 feet above the rest of the temple compound and there is a steep rough track giving access. A further two hundred feet up the hill there is a large Buddha icon but foot access is impossible at the moment due to building work.
At the lower level there is the normal collection of temple buildings and a wihan has several Buddha images. There is also a school for monks.
Wat Chaloemarat is located on Route 3217 which runs from Highway 4 just North of Kuiburi to Kuiburi national park near the Thai/Myanmar border.
There are no charges and there is ample parking.
GPS Co-ordinates: 12.107183 + 99.753261
Opinion:
Wat Chaloemrat is certainly worth a visit if only for the excellent views afforded of the surrounding countryside from the hill where the ubosoth is located. It would also be interesting to try and find a route up to the large Buddha image located even higher up the hill. Since it is on the route to Kuiburi National Park it is not out of your way if you are visiting the elephant observation area.
Last Visited: April 2010
View Wat Chaloemrat on a map of the area.
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