# Wat Khunaram, Koh Samui > Wat Khunaram is a temple in southern Samui where the body of the monk Luang Pho Daeng, who passed away in 1973, sits in meditation in a glass pavilion. He asked for it to be displayed as a reminder of life's impermanence. Entry is free; dress modestly and keep quiet. It's on the ring road, near the turn-off to the Na Muang waterfalls. Web page: https://yesgo.io/thailand/koh-samui/wat-khunaram - City: [Koh Samui](https://yesgo.io/thailand/koh-samui), Thailand - YesGo score: 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 20 min - Opening hours: Daily, during the day - With kids: Better without small kids - Entry: Free; donations welcome - Shrine: The body of the monk Luang Pho Daeng in meditation - Meaning: A reminder of impermanence — at the monk's own wish - Dress: Shoulders and knees covered; keep your voice down - Na Muang waterfalls: ≈ 2 km, 3 minutes - From Chaweng: ≈ 17 km, about 25 minutes - Coordinates: 9.44978, 100.00065 - Facts checked: 08.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1973** — the year Luang Pho Daeng passed away (source: en.wikipedia) - **His wish** — the monk himself asked for his body to be displayed (source: en.wikipedia) - **Impermanence** — the point — a reminder of how brief life is (source: en.wikipedia) - **Meditation** — the body sits in the posture the monk meditated in (source: travel guides) - **Route 4169** — the temple is on the ring road between Na Muang and Hua Thanon (source: en.wikipedia) - **6 km** — west of Lamai Beach (source: en.wikipedia) - **≈ 2 km** — to the Na Muang waterfalls (source: OSRM) - **0 baht** — to get in (source: travel guides) ## What is Wat Khunaram? **Wat Khunaram** is a working Buddhist temple in southern Samui, on ring road **4169** between Na Muang and Hua Thanon, about 6 km west of Lamai. It's known for a shrine most temples don't have: the body of the revered monk **Luang Pho Daeng**. Luang Pho Daeng passed away in **1973**. He asked for his body to be put on display as a reminder of **life's impermanence** — one of Buddhism's central ideas. The body sits in meditation in a glass pavilion, and Thais come here not to sightsee but to pay respects to a teacher. > **How to behave** Wat Khunaram is a place of worship, not a museum. Cover your shoulders and knees, remove your hat and speak quietly. Photos are usually allowed, but without flash, selfies or jokes. If locals are praying at the pavilion, wait to one side. Prepare children in advance for what they'll see. ## How the temple works The grounds are small: a white-and-gold main hall with naga railings, the shrine pavilion and the monks' buildings. Entry is **free**, with donation boxes; locals leave flowers and incense at the pavilion. The temple is often visited on the way to the **Na Muang waterfalls** — the turn-off is just a couple of kilometres away. Mornings are quieter; island tour groups stop by during the day. ## What to see - **The pavilion** with Luang Pho Daeng's shrine. - **The main hall** with white walls and gold trim. - **Naga staircases** — serpent guardians. - **Offerings** — flowers and incense at the pavilion. - **The quiet courtyard** with its trees. - **The Na Muang waterfalls** — 2 km away. ## How to get to Wat Khunaram 1. **From Chaweng** — ≈ 17 km south and west on ring road 4169, about 25 minutes. 2. **From Lamai** — ≈ 6 km west, about 10 minutes. 3. **From the Na Muang waterfalls** — ≈ 2 km, 3 minutes. 4. **From the airport** — ≈ 22 km, about 30 minutes. 5. **By songthaew** — the blue shared trucks on the ring road; ask to stop at Wat Khunaram. ## Wat Khunaram or the Red Temple | | Wat Khunaram | Red Temple | | --- | --- | --- | | Highlight | The monk's shrine | Carving in red clay | | Mood | Quiet, reflective | Photogenic | | Time | 15–20 minutes | 20–30 minutes | | Entry | Free | Free | ## How long do you need? Allow **15–20 minutes** for Wat Khunaram. It fits neatly into a loop of the south: the **Na Muang waterfalls** in the morning, then Wat Khunaram, the **Red Temple** (about 4 km) and the **Hin Ta and Hin Yai** rocks. The whole loop takes half a day. If you're on a scooter, keep clothes that cover shoulders and knees in your bag — you'll need them at both temples. ## Is Wat Khunaram worth visiting? Yes, if living Buddhist tradition interests you: it's a rare place where the idea of impermanence is shown so directly, and it's on the way to the waterfalls. The YesGo take: the shrine may unsettle sensitive visitors and children — decide in advance whether you're ready. Treat it as a temple, not a curiosity. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Clothes covering shoulders and knees - [ ] No flash or selfies at the shrine - [ ] Small change for a donation - [ ] The Na Muang waterfalls on the way - [ ] Children prepared in advance ## Temples of Koh Samui: compare and choose Temples and shrines on Koh Samui rated by YesGo. - [Big Buddha](https://yesgo.io/thailand/koh-samui/koh-samui-big-buddha) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · free - [Wat Plai Laem](https://yesgo.io/thailand/koh-samui/wat-plai-laem) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · free - [Wat Khunaram (Mummified Monk)](https://yesgo.io/thailand/koh-samui/wat-khunaram) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · free - [Red Temple (Wat Sila Ngu)](https://yesgo.io/thailand/koh-samui/wat-sila-ngu) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free ## Southern Samui in half a day The Na Muang waterfalls in the morning, then Wat Khunaram, the Red Temple and the Hin Ta and Hin Yai rocks. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Na Muang Waterfalls](https://yesgo.io/thailand/koh-samui/na-muang-waterfalls) — YesGo score 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Na Muang 1 free; Na Muang 2 ≈ 30–50 baht 2. [Wat Khunaram (Mummified Monk)](https://yesgo.io/thailand/koh-samui/wat-khunaram) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · free 3. [Red Temple (Wat Sila Ngu)](https://yesgo.io/thailand/koh-samui/wat-sila-ngu) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free 4. [Hin Ta and Hin Yai (Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks)](https://yesgo.io/thailand/koh-samui/hin-ta-hin-yai) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free ## Good to know Wat Khunaram's shrine on Samui is unrelated to the preserved monks of Mongolia, Tibet or China. Samui has another temple with a preserved monk, Wat Samret, but visitors usually come here. ## Tips - No flash at the pavilion. - Keep temple clothes in your bag. - Prepare children in advance. - Combine it with the Na Muang waterfalls. - Nearby: [the Na Muang waterfalls](https://yesgo.io/thailand/koh-samui/na-muang-waterfalls), 2 km. ## Questions ### How much does Wat Khunaram cost? Entry is free; donations are welcome. ### Who was Luang Pho Daeng? A revered monk of the temple who passed away in 1973. ### Why is his body on display? It was his own wish — as a reminder of life's impermanence. ### Can you take photos? Usually yes, but without flash and with respect. ### What should I wear? Cover shoulders and knees. ### Where is the temple? On ring road 4169, 2 km from the Na Muang waterfalls. ### How long do you need? 15–20 minutes. ### Is it suitable for children? Your call: explain it in advance to sensitive children. ## How we checked There's no official website. The monk's name, year, his wish and the temple's location are from Wikipedia. Guides say entry is free; hours vary between sources, so we say 'during the day'. We present the shrine calmly and respectfully, without graphic description. The mention of Wat Samret is from guides. Distances are from OSRM: 16.6 km from Chaweng, 21.7 km from the airport, 1.9 km to the Na Muang waterfalls, 4.2 km to the Red Temple. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Wat Khunaram — monk, year, wish, location - Travel guides — entry, behaviour, photography (unofficial) - Wikidata Q15908032 — coordinates; OSRM — road distances - YesGo general facts for Thailand — payment, transport --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.