Wat Tham Khuha Sawan

Wat Tham Khuha Sawan sits on a bluff above the Mekong at Khong Chiam, and its most striking relic isn’t ancient — it’s the intact body of the monk who founded the temple, kept in a glass coffin inside the cave where he once meditated. Luang Pu Kham Kaning Chulamuni established the temple in 1978 and died in 1985 at age 91; his body never decomposed, and it’s been on display for veneration ever since.

The cave itself, Tham Khuha Sawan, is walkable and not especially deep — no ropes or scrambling required — and its chambers hold numerous seated Buddha images in the Mara Vijaya pose alongside the coffin. Outside, the roughly 15-rai grounds hold a chedi, ornamental gardens, and the temple’s best-known landmark: a giant gong-shaped monument, locally described as the largest gong in the world at around 20 metres across. It doubles as both a photo point and a viewing platform rather than a functional instrument.

The real draw for most visitors, though, is the view. From the elevated platform you look out over the confluence where the brown Mekong meets the blue-green Mun — the “Two-Color River” that gives Khong Chiam its reputation — plus the rooftops of Khong Chiam town and Laos across the water. It’s one of the best vantage points in the area for the Two-Color River View Point, and pairs naturally with a stop there at riverside level. The temple is also listed as one of the sites within the Ubon Ratchathani Geopark network, which groups the province’s notable natural and cultural landmarks along the Mekong.

Insider Tip: The colour split in the river below is sharpest around April, at the end of the dry season when water levels are low. After heavy rain, both rivers run muddy and the contrast fades.

Watch out: The cave floor is uneven in places — wear shoes with grip, not sandals, and bring a flashlight if you want to look closely at the Buddha images in the dimmer chambers.

Modest dress is required throughout, as the cave remains an active place of worship. The temple is about 70 km from Ubon Ratchathani city, roughly 1.5 hours by car via Khong Chiam.