Wat Jong Kham and Wat Jong Klang

Temple

By Mae Hong Son's Jong Kham lake, Wat Jong Kham and Wat Jong Klang show Burmese-influenced roofs beside water; visitors come for lakeside views, photography and morning alms rounds.

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In this guide

Wat Jong Kham and Wat Jong Klang essentials

Address: Wat Jong Kham and Wat Jong Klang, Mae Hong Son town, Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand
Hours: Daily, dawn-dusk
Admission: Free
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About Wat Jong Kham and Wat Jong Klang

Wat Jong Kham and Wat Jong Klang are two neighboring lakeside temples in the centre of Mae Hong Son town, positioned on the shore of a small urban lake. They are visually linked and commonly visited together.

Wat Jong Kham sits right at the water’s edge and features wooden and Lanna-Burmese decorative elements; Wat Jong Klang lies immediately adjacent and forms the pair often seen in photographs taken from the lakeside promenade. The temples and their reflections on the lake are particularly photographed around sunset.

Both function as local community temples within Mae Hong Son town and reflect the hybrid Lanna and Burmese architectural influences of the region. They are a short walk from Mae Hong Son’s central market and municipal area.

  • Lakeside setting: Located on the shore of a small central lake in Mae Hong Son town, making the pair a popular subject for sunset photography.
Things to Do
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Wat Jong Kham and Wat Jong Klang

Visit during the cool, dry season (November-February) for the most comfortable weather and clearer skies.

Cool / dry
November-February · ~10-25 °C
Pleasant, drier days and cooler nights - the best time to visit the temple complex for comfortable sightseeing.
Hot
March-May · ~25-38 °C
Hot, often sunny conditions - mornings are best for outdoor visits before the heat builds.
Wet (monsoon)
June-October · ~24-30 °C
Frequent heavy rain and higher humidity can make walking between sites rainy and slippery.

History & Culture of Wat Jong Kham and Wat Jong Klang

Both temples were built in the early 19th century by local Shan people, and both were rebuilt during the 1970s. Each is topped with elaborately decorated rooftops in the Shan style.

It is worth taking a look inside Wat Jong Klang, which holds several glass paintings made over a century ago and a collection of surprisingly lifelike teak carvings depicting characters from the Jataka tales, the stories of the previous lives of the Buddha.

Weather & Climate near Wat Jong Kham and Wat Jong Klang

Climate

Wat Jong Kham and Wat Jong Klang's climate is classified as Tropical Savanna - Tropical Savanna climate with very hot summers (peaking in April) and warm winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 14°C to 37°C. Abundant rainfall (1265 mm/year), wettest in August with a pronounced dry season.

Air Quality: AQI 87 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
FebruaryJanuaryDecember
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
41°
Warmest Month
1°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Ideal 14° - 28° 21° 6 mm mostly sunny 66% 0.7 m/s 1.5 very high 11.0h
February Ideal 16° - 31° 24° 5 mm clear 54% 0.9 m/s 1.9 very high 11.4h
March Excellent 20° - 35° 28° 18 mm mostly sunny 52% 1.1 m/s 2.0 extreme 11.9h
April Very Good 24° - 37° 33° 56 mm some cloud 57% 1.3 m/s 2.2 extreme 12.5h
May Acceptable 24° - 35° 35° 175 mm overcast 74% 1.2 m/s 2.2 extreme 12.9h
June Acceptable 24° - 32° 32° 175 mm overcast 82% 1.2 m/s 2.0 extreme 13.2h
July Acceptable 24° - 31° 31° 214 mm overcast 85% 1.1 m/s 1.9 very high 13.1h
August Acceptable 24° - 31° 31° 244 mm overcast 86% 1.2 m/s 1.9 very high 12.7h
September Acceptable 23° - 31° 31° 199 mm overcast 84% 0.8 m/s 1.9 very high 12.1h
October Very Good 22° - 31° 27° 113 mm partly cloudy 82% 0.7 m/s 1.8 very high 11.6h
November Excellent 20° - 29° 25° 45 mm mostly sunny 79% 0.8 m/s 1.6 very high 11.1h
December Ideal 16° - 28° 22° 15 mm mostly sunny 75% 0.7 m/s 1.4 high 10.9h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Wat Jong Kham and Wat Jong Klang

Wat Jong Kham and Wat Jong Klang sit beside the small lake in downtown Mae Hong Son. From Chiang Mai you can take the daily minibus/van service from Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Terminal to Mae Hong Son (the trip is a long mountain drive of roughly 5-6 hours, about 250 km by road). Once in Mae Hong Son town the temples are a short walk from the main road and the local bus/van drop‑off (typically around 500-800 m); local songthaews or tuk‑tuks can also drop you at the lakefront.

Tips for Visiting Wat Jong Kham and Wat Jong Klang

  • Visit around late afternoon into sunset to catch the temples reflected on the small lake and to combine the visit with Mae Hong Son's evening market without the midday heat.
  • Approach from the lakeside promenade that runs through town rather than trying to find a back road; the main lakeside entrances put you closest to the wooden Burmese-style bell towers and viewing points.
  • Take time to circle both temples-many visitors only photograph the lakeside façade and miss the teakwork, carved windows and quieter prayer halls on the far side of the complex.