Feel spiritually grounded after a visit to Wat Sila Ngu

The only pink/red temple on Koh Samui, Wat Sila Ngu, made entirely of terracota clay, is popular with both locals and tourists.

 

Locals visit it often because it houses a gold-plated Buddha statue seated among hand-carved walls and marble floors, which is said to be a relic from Lord Buddha's lifetime. 

 

Tourists, on the other hand, flock to it for its unique colour and convenient location with a great view of the coast that wraps around Hua Thanon, a small fishing village.

 

The walls of the temple are covered in intricately-carved murals depicting stories from the Ramayana, as well as major historical events that shaped Buddhism. Some have even said that this is finest examples of Buddhist architecture in Asia.

 

Make sure you get up close for a good look at the handmade sculptures and carvings, which are a testament of the craftsmen's skills, patience and devotion to Buddhism.

 

Outside the temple, the Buddha relics are contained in the golden pagoda, Phra That Sila Ngu (or the stone snake pagoda).