Na Muang (interior) · Temples & Culture
Wat Khunaram
Mummified Monk Temple
A simple working temple famous for the naturally mummified body of monk Luang Pho Daeng, who died meditating in 1973 and asked to be displayed as a reminder that life is impermanent. The body sits in a glass case, wearing sunglasses. Free entry; an unusual but deeply respected sight.
- Free
- Na Muang (interior)
- Checked 25 Sept
Insider tips
- Read the story of Luang Pho Daeng before you go - it changes how you see the display.
- The road opposite leads up to the Secret Buddha Garden and mountain viewpoints, so the two combine well.
- Keep voices low near the shrine; locals come here to pray, not to sightsee.
The story
Wat Khunaram is a modest Buddhist temple on Koh Samui's ring road (4169), between Hua Thanon and the Na Muang area, about 6 km west of Lamai. It is famous across Thailand for one thing: the mummified body of Luang Pho Daeng (monastic name Phra Khru Samathakittikhun). Born in 1894, he was ordained young, later left the monkhood to marry and raise six children, and returned to monastic life in 1944.
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He died in 1973, aged 79, while sitting in meditation. Before his death he asked that if his body did not decay, it should be put on display as a reminder of the Buddhist teaching of impermanence - that nothing lasts, including the body. His body remained remarkably intact without embalming and now sits upright in a glass case inside a special hall.
The sunglasses he wears were added by monks because the eyes naturally receded. For Thai Buddhists this is a sacred object of meditation, not a curiosity; locals come daily to pray and make merit. Beyond the shrine, the temple is a quiet, typical village wat with monks in residence.
Some visitors find the display unsettling; approach it with respect and an open mind. Entry is free.
Good to know
- Open daily in daylight hours.
- Free · Free; donations welcome.
- Early morning or late afternoon for a quieter, more reflective visit.
- Family friendly: Yes
Plan a visit
Free route: you go by your own scooter, car or on foot and we work out the order. Private tour: a local driver picks you up and takes you.
Checked 25 Sept 2026 · 7 sources
Sources and last check
- Last checked
- 25 Sept 2026
- What was checked
- Details checked 25 Sept 2026
- Next check due
- September 2027
Official sources
No official source published yet for this page.
Plus 7 other references and local research.
