Wat Neranchararam

Wat Neranchararam sits about a kilometre north of central Cha-am, along Ruamjit Road, and holds a Buddha image found nowhere else in Thailand: a white stucco figure seated with all nine bodily orifices sealed — both eyes, both nostrils, both ears, the mouth, and the two lower openings. Entry is free.

The closed-orifice Buddha is a piece of Buddhist symbolism rather than a historical artefact — it represents cutting off every channel through which desire and defilement enter the body and mind, a visual teaching unique to this temple. The ordination hall itself is unusual too: built in an Old Indian architectural style rarely seen in Thai temple design, a deliberate departure from the standard Thai ubosot roofline.

Inside sits Luang Pho Thong, a Buddha image dating to 1935 that draws the temple’s most devoted local following. A four-sided pavilion built in 1948 houses a set of gilded Buddha footprints, and a statue near the grounds honours a former abbot who led the temple for 52 years and oversaw much of its development.

The temple draws a mix of local devotees and visitors staying along the Cha-am to Hua Hin coast, but stays notably quieter than the beach strip itself even in high season. For a change of pace nearby, Maruekhathaiyawan Palace and Puek Tian Beach both sit within a short drive.

Insider Tip: Ask a temple volunteer to explain the nine-orifice symbolism before you look closely at the statue — the detail, and the point being made, is easy to miss without context.

Dress modestly and remove your shoes before entering the ordination hall, as at any working Thai temple, and expect a short, unhurried visit rather than a half-day stop.