Taling Ngam · Temples & Culture
Wat Kiri Wongkaram
A quiet, colourful village temple in Taling Ngam known for Koh Samui's second mummified monk, Luang Por Ruam (died 1966), displayed upright in a glass case. White buildings, vivid roof tiles, elephant statues at the gate. Free entry; few tourists.
- Free
- Taling Ngam
- under an hour
- Checked 25 Sept
Insider tips
- Combine with Taling Ngam beach or Lipa Noi on the quiet west coast.
- Drive slowly through the village and park neatly - this is a living community temple.
- If you found Wat Khunaram too busy or confronting, this is a quieter alternative on the same theme.
The story
Wat Kiri Wongkaram is a local Theravada Buddhist temple in the Taling Ngam area on Koh Samui's southwest coast, reached via route 4170 through the village entrance marked by two large elephant statues (the 'Elephant Gate'). The temple is known for its bright white buildings with red, green and yellow tiled roofs, white elephant statues and well-kept grounds. Its most remarkable feature is the mummified body of the monk Luang Por Ruam, kept upright in a glass case in a shrine built for him.
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According to local accounts he was born near the temple in 1879, travelled to Burma (Myanmar) in the early 20th century to study Buddhist practice, then lived a life of meditation and simplicity until his death (sources give 1966; one travel blog says 1979 - the exact year is not consistently verified). Like the more famous mummy at Wat Khunaram, his body is said to have been preserved without chemicals, and local legend claims his hair and nails still grow - this is folklore, not verified fact. Because tour groups rarely stop here, the temple offers a calmer, more local experience than Wat Khunaram.
Murals inside show scenes from the Buddha's life, some with English captions. Entry is free; donations are welcome.
Good to know
- Open daily in daylight hours.
- Free
- under an hour
- Daylight hours; quietest outside local ceremony days. Mornings are coolest.
- Hardly affected by weather
- Family friendly: Yes
- Good for couples: Yes
- Scooter access: Yes
- Car access: 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 · 9 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 9 other references and local research.
