Wat Phra That Doi Hin Kiu Temple

Hours: Daily dawn-dusk

Admission: Free (donations welcome)

This remote forest temple lies 11 kilometres northwest of Mae Sot, overlooking the Moei River and Burma. It is well worth the trip, but you need to be reasonably fit for the steep climb up to the unusual chedi perched on a rock. There is no English sign, but as the only temple in the area you simply keep an eye out for a temple entrance on the right.

At the base of the hill are a simple open-sided viharn and a few monks’ living quarters. A towering standing Buddha, about 5 metres tall, marks where the steps begin; there are many of them and they are quite steep, so the climb takes 15 to 20 minutes, with frequent pauses to catch your breath. At the top is a small cave holding a Burmese-style Buddha image, after which the path splits: right leads to a Buddha footprint, left to the temple’s main point of interest, its chedi.

What amazes visitors is that the huge rock on which the tiny chedi stands appears to defy the laws of physics, balancing precariously on the hilltop as though it might tumble down at any moment. The rock has been painted gold, and the stupa is surrounded by a few colourful figures, creating a unique scene. If it looks familiar, that is because it is a smaller version of Burma’s Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, itself built on a precariously balanced rock.