Guan Yu Shrine
A sixteen-metre statue of the Chinese god of war, red-faced and holding his blade, looking out over the sea at Hua Thanon.
Open≈ 1.0 km
An unfinished temple in raw terracotta, every surface carved, standing on the shore north of Hua Thanon. The red against the sea is unlike anything else on the island.
Wat Sila Ngu — Wat Ratchathammaram on the sign — is built entirely in unglazed terracotta, every surface carved, and it stands on the shore north of Hua Thanon. Red against a turquoise sea is unlike anything else on the island, and the temple is still unfinished.
Craftsmen have been carving the panels for years: scenes from the life of the Buddha, guardians, nagas, all in the same raw clay. Behind the main hall a golden chedi faces the water and a covered market sells food to the pilgrims. It is five minutes from Hin Ta & Hin Yai, and the two make a natural pair.
Ten minutes from Hin Ta & Hin Yai — do the two together.
The terracotta gets extremely hot underfoot at midday, and shoes come off inside the hall.
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A sixteen-metre statue of the Chinese god of war, red-faced and holding his blade, looking out over the sea at Hua Thanon.
Open≈ 1.0 km
Two boulders balanced on each other in the hills above Lamai, with a terrace looking down the whole south-east coast. A small fee gets you through the gate.
Open≈ 1.0 km
Two granite formations at the south end of Lamai whose resemblance to human anatomy is not subtle, and which come with a local legend and a small market.
Open≈ 1.0 km
The island guide · Temples & shrines of Koh Samui · Koh Samui map
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