Wat Tham Khuha Sawan temple is located near the town of Khong Chiam, 80 kilometers east of Ubon Ratchathani. Built in 1978 by Luang Pho Kam Khaning Chula Mani, it served as the revered monk's residence and meditation center throughout his life. His remains rest in a glass coffin within the temple cave and are in perfect condition. The first thing one notices upon arriving at Wat Tham Khuha Sawan is the enormous gong. Incidentally, the village of the gong makers is located on the road between the temple and Ubon Ratchathani. The temple cave of Wat Tham Khuha Sawan, situated on the edge of a cliff face, houses a series of seated Buddha statues and a reclining Buddha. Beyond this lies the chamber containing the coffin of the revered monk who founded the temple. Other sights include a white ubosot with beautiful architecture and the Phra Dhamma Chedi Sri Trai Phum, which houses a Buddha statue in meditation. At the edge of the temple cliff is a viewpoint overlooking the Mekong River, offering views of the houses of Khong Chiam and those on the opposite Laotian side. It's a great spot to watch the sunrise.

Free entry. Open from 8 am to 6 pm, but you can also arrive earlier for sunrise.

To reach Wat Tham Khuha Sawan temple, transportation is recommended. The journey from Ubon Ratchathani takes just over an hour. I would personally suggest staying overnight in Khong Chiam (at the Tohsang Heritage if you'd like to treat yourself ;)), as there are many interesting sights in this part of the province. Wat Sirindhorn Wararam, with its impressive neon paintings that glow at night, is particularly noteworthy. But there's plenty more to explore in the surrounding area as well! From Khong Chiam, you can reach Wat Tham Khuha Sawan temple in just 10 minutes by car.

Wat Tham Khuha Sawan is a temple, and when visiting a temple in Thailand there are some rules to follow: appropriate clothing (knees and shoulders should be covered), take off your shoes when entering the building, be quiet, do not hug or kiss, do not point your feet at the Buddha statue, do not smoke.

How to get there

How do you get to Wat Tham Khuha Sawan? Transportation is recommended to reach Wat Tham Khuha Sawan. From Ubon Ratchathani, the journey takes just over an hour. I personally recommend arriving and staying overnight in Khong Chiam (at the Tohsang Heritage if you'd like to treat yourself ;)), as there are many interesting sights in this part of the province. Wat Sirindhorn Wararam, with its impressive neon paintings that glow at night, is particularly noteworthy. But there's plenty more to explore in the surrounding area! From Khong Chiam, it's only a 10-minute drive to Wat Tham Khuha Sawan.