Wat Ratchathammaram Red Temple

Wat Ratchathammaram, also called Wat Sila Ngu, is a Buddhist temple on Koh Samui’s southern side, beside Route 4169. Its terracotta-red hall is covered in detailed reliefs and statues, with a giant guardian figure at the entrance. Inside the grounds, a golden pagoda holds relics of Sakyamuni, and a bodhi tree grows nearby. Steps lead down from the pagoda to stupas commemorating former monks. The temple’s quiet setting and sea views make it a reflective stop, and its location is convenient for a visit to the Overlap Stones.

The red temple hall

Wat Ratchathammaram is also known as Wat Sila Ngu, a name associated with Snake Stone. Its recently built hall is made from red clay and decorated with bas-relief designs and statues. A large warrior figure, called a Dvarapala Yaksha, guards the doors. The hall is unfinished, giving its entrance a distinct setting among the temple’s carved details.

The warm red surface stands out against the sky. Inside, the decoration continues, and the hall’s unusual color sets it apart from the more familiar temple buildings on Koh Samui.

Pagoda, bodhi tree and stupas

A golden pagoda on the grounds contains relics of Sakyamuni. A sacred bodhi tree also grows within the temple complex. Steps descend from the pagoda to a group of stupas built in memory of former monks.

The temple is on Koh Samui’s southern side along Route 4169. The road opposite leads uphill toward the Overlap Stones, so the two stops can be combined in one outing.