Khao Bandai It Caves
ถ้ำเขาบันไดอิฐ · Also: Wat Khao Bandai It, Khao Ban Dai It
A 121-metre hill in Mueang Phetchaburi dotted with caves that hold Buddha images and legends of King Suea and his teacher Phra Achan Saeng, topped by Wat Khao Bandai It and its Ayutthaya-period buildings.
Khao Bandai It is a small hill, 121 metres high, in Rai Som subdistrict of Mueang Phetchaburi. Wat Khao Bandai It stands on the summit, and the hill's main draw is the many caves scattered around it.
Caves worth a look include Tham Phra Chao Suea, with a Buddha image in the gesture of giving blessings and the canopy of a boat said to have been given by King Suea to Phra Achan Saeng; Tham Phra Non, with a golden reclining Buddha; Tham Phra Chan and Tham Phra Athit, which have openings in the cave roof; and Tham Duke, where a German duke who was a friend of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) once sat in meditation.
Legend says that around 1697 Phra Achan Saeng, King Suea's teacher, used the hill as a meditation retreat. The ordination hall, vihara and chedi on the south-eastern shoulder of the hill are archaeological remains from the middle Ayutthaya period.
The temple is open daily 07:00–17:00 and has parking. Phone 0 3248 8438.
Getting there
On Khao Bandai It hill in Rai Som subdistrict, Mueang Phetchaburi, reached by Bandai It Road; there is parking.
- Things to do
- CavesWorshipPhotography
- Facilities
- Parking
Sources and photos
Written from the sources below, read on 30 October 2026. Fees and opening can change, so check with the managing office before you go.