Hin Ta and Hin Yai (Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks)
Koh Samui, Thailand
Red Temple, Koh Samui (Wat Sila Ngu)
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Photo: Eletroboss, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free; donations welcome
- Hours
- Daily, roughly 8:00–17:00
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 30 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Hall
- Unpainted red clay and stone, relief carving
- Stupa
- The golden Phra That Sila Ngu by the sea
- Dress
- Shoulders and knees covered; shoes off at the door
- From Chaweng
- ≈ 12.5 km, about 20 minutes
Key facts
Sila NguThai for 'snake stone' — the temple's popular name
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travel guidesRatchathammaramthe temple's official name
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WikidataClaythe hall is built of unpainted red clay and stone
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travel guidesReliefscarving covers the walls — scenes and patterns
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travel guidesNagasserpent-guardian railings on the stairs
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travel guidesGolden stupastands by the sea within the temple grounds
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travel guides≈ 1 kmto the Hin Ta and Hin Yai rocks
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OSRM0 bahtto get in
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travel guidesWhat is the Red Temple?
The Red Temple is what visitors call the ordination hall of Wat Ratchathammaram, known locally as Wat Sila Ngu ('temple of the snake stone'). It stands on the ring road in the village of Ban Hua Thanon, south of Lamai beach.
What sets the hall apart is its material: it's built of unpainted red clay and stone, and the walls are covered in fine relief carving. In the sun the building glows terracotta, and the stairs have naga-serpent railings. In the same grounds, closer to the sea, stands the golden stupa of Phra That Sila Ngu.
How the temple works
The grounds are small: the Red Hall, the monks' quarters and the golden stupa by the sea. Entry is free, with donation boxes. Guides give different hours — most often roughly 8:00 to 17:00.
Sources disagree widely on the temple's age, so we leave it out. The red hall itself looks new, and the carving on its walls is hand-made and very detailed — it's worth a close look as you walk round the building.
What to see
- The Red Hall of unpainted clay and stone.
- The wall carving — relief scenes and patterns.
- Naga railings on the stairs.
- The golden stupa of Phra That Sila Ngu by the sea.
- Sea views from the stupa.
- Hua Thanon village nearby — a Muslim fishing village with boats.
How to get to the Red Temple
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Hin Ta and Hin Yai (Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks) is about 16 min away on foot.
More tips
- From Chaweng — ≈ 12.5 km south on ring road 4169, about 20 minutes by taxi or scooter.
- From Lamai — 5–10 minutes south on the ring road.
- From the Hin Ta and Hin Yai rocks — ≈ 1 km, 2–3 minutes.
- From the airport — ≈ 17.6 km, about 25 minutes.
- By songthaew — the blue shared trucks run along the ring road; ask to stop at Wat Sila Ngu.
The Red Hall or the golden stupa
| Red Hallyou are here | Carving in red clay | By the ring road | Yes, shoes off | Morning and evening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden stupa | Sea views | Closer to the shore | Viewed from outside | Morning |
How long do you need?
Allow 20–30 minutes for the Red Temple. It's easy to combine with other sights in the south: the Hin Ta and Hin Yai rocks (1 km), Wat Khunaram (about 4 km west) and the Na Muang waterfalls.
A loop of the island's south takes half a day. Start with the waterfalls in the cool of the morning and leave the temples and rocks for the afternoon.
Is the Red Temple worth visiting?
Yes: it's one of Samui's most photogenic temples — carved red clay looks nothing like the usual white-and-gold temples. Entry is free and it's on the way south.
The YesGo take: the temple is small and not worth a long trip on its own. But on a loop of the south — with the Hin Ta and Hin Yai rocks and the waterfalls — it rounds off the day nicely.
Before you go: checklist
Ready: 0 of 5Tick what is ready — your ticks stay in this browser.
You are ready for the visit
Temples of Koh Samui: compare and choose
Temples and shrines on Koh Samui rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.
| Big Buddha | 44 | 45 min | Free | 13.7 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wat Plai Laem | 44 | 40 min | Free | 14.0 km |
| Red Temple (Wat Sila Ngu)you are here | 30 | 30 min | Free | — |
| Wat Khunaram (Mummified Monk) | 30 | 20 min | Free | 3.3 km |
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.
- Na Muang Waterfalls1 h 30 min · Na Muang 1 free; Na Muang 2 ≈ 30–50 baht
- 27 min walk from the previous stopWat Khunaram (Mummified Monk)20 min · free
- 58 min walk from the previous stopRed Temple (Wat Sila Ngu)you are here30 min · free
- 16 min walk from the previous stopHin Ta and Hin Yai (Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks)30 min · free
4 places · about 4 h 31 min with walks · 101 min on foot in total
Nearby — add to your day
How to do it right
- Don't touch the clay carving.
- Walk all the way round — every wall is carved.
- The stupa by the sea has water views.
- Combine it with the Hin Ta and Hin Yai rocks.
- Nearby: Hin Ta and Hin Yai, 1 km.
Questions
How much does the Red Temple cost?
Entry is free.
Why is the temple red?
The hall is built of unpainted red clay and stone.
What is the temple's official name?
Wat Ratchathammaram; locals call it Wat Sila Ngu.
What should I wear?
Cover shoulders and knees; shoes come off at the door.
Where is it?
In Ban Hua Thanon, south of Lamai, on ring road 4169.
What are the opening hours?
Daily, roughly 8:00–17:00 (sources vary).
How long do you need?
20–30 minutes.
What's nearby?
The Hin Ta and Hin Yai rocks 1 km away, and Wat Khunaram.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- Travel guides (Love Thailand, Khaosan Road, Nasha Planeta and others) — hall, material, carving, stupa, entry, hours (unofficial)
- Wikidata Q55497295 — official name, coordinates; OSRM — road distances
- YesGo general facts for Thailand — payment, transport
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