Wat Tham Khuha Sawan

Wat Tham Khuha Sawan’s most striking relic isn’t ancient stonework. 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, on a bluff above the Mekong at Khong Chiam.

The cave and the coffin

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. Modest dress is required throughout, as the cave remains an active place of worship, not a sight-seeing set piece.

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.

The gong and the view

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 a photo point and viewing platform rather than a functional instrument. The real draw for most visitors, though, is the view from the elevated platform beside it: 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.

Planning your visit

The temple is about 70 km from Ubon Ratchathani city, roughly 1.5 hours by car via Khong Chiam, the same route that serves the Two-Color River viewpoint below, so most visitors combine the two on one trip. Entry is free, and the temple is open daily in daylight hours; published times vary, so mid-morning to mid-afternoon is the safe window.