Wat Phrathat Doi Kongmu on the top of Doi Kongmu Hill only 3 km to the west of the provincial town contains a relic of the Buddha and comprises two pagodas of Shan style. This temple reflects the strong influence of the Burmese. The highlights of this attraction are the two lavishly decorated pagodas.
The temple dates from around the time of the village's upgrade to a city in 1874. One of the huge chedis contains the ashes of a revered monk that were bought from Burma by two devotees. The other houses the ashes of Mae Hong Son's first governor, Phaya Singhanat Racha.
Constructed by Phaya Singhanatracha, the first King of Mae Hong Son, the hilltop temple offers a wonderful view of the town and surrounding mountains and valleys. Behind the two chedis, nestled into the base of the crown of the hill, is the large rambling open-fronted wiharn containing the altar. On the top the ubosot, a chedi and a standing Buddha at the top of the mountain.
A steep road leads further up to the crown of the hill where the ubosot is located. In front of the ubosot is a large slender standing Buddha image. A small chedi and several cenotaphs stand next to the ubosot. In front of the standing Buddha, a boat rowed by two monks and two lay people carries the Buddhist wheel.
Off to one side of the road to the top is a parking area lined with souvenir stalls to keep your shopping itch scratch and a tiny post office to send a post card to your love ones.
It takes only a few minutes to go by car to the hilltop or hours depending on your stamina to climb the stairs, which compensates you with panoramic view of the town and its beautiful surroundings. Reaching the temple on foot means taking one of two paths. From Wat Phra Non at the foot of the hill, a stairway leads halfway up the hill and then joins the other path which starts at Wat Muo Taw. This second path is a little easier, as it consists mostly of a zig-zag of ramps with only short stairways at the switch-backs. There are also covered rest stops at each corner.
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