Wat Sawang Arom

A Thai Temple in Rawai Beach

Wat Sawang Arom is a temple of the Mahanikaya sect located in Rawai, south of Phuket Island. Established in 1942 by Phra Bunrod Thammakamo, the temple covers an area of approximately 9,636 square meters. The temple’s boundaries were officially defined in 1966, and it has been teaching Buddhist scriptures since 1919. Additionally, a primary school was constructed, featuring six school buildings, two teacher residences, a library, and a hospital.

Key structures at the temple include six permanent monks’ residences, along with an alms hall, a funeral hall, a crematorium, and a bell tower. Notably, the temple houses a principal Buddha image with a lap width of 2 meters and five additional Buddha images, each with a lap width of 1 meter.

We stopped at Wat Sawang Arom while driving around Rawai and Nai Harn. It’s a small, local temple just by the main road, easy to miss if you’re not paying attention. The place is very quiet, with just a few buildings and a golden stupa in the middle. A couple of monks were walking around, and a few locals were lighting incense at the shrine.

This isn’t one of those big tourist temples like Wat Chalong. It’s more of a neighbourhood temple where people from the area come to make merit. The buildings are simple but well-kept, and you can feel it’s still part of daily life here.

There’s no ticket booth or crowds—just a peaceful corner of Rawai where things move slowly. We stayed for about fifteen minutes, took a few photos, and made a small donation. If you’re driving past and want to see something local and genuine, it’s worth a quick stop. It’s not a major attraction, but it shows the more down-to-earth side of Phuket that often gets overlooked.

Wat Sawang Arom has been here a long time. It was founded around 1837 by a monk from Surat Thani, and officially became a temple in 1842. Inside, there’s a small Buddha statue called Luang Pho Kesan, made with sacred flower powders and blessed soil from India. Locals still come here to pray, just like they’ve done for generations.

Wat Sawang Arom Info

Location: Rawai Beach
Address: Rawai, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83100
Price: free
Dress Code: No short skirts or short pants, no sleeveless T-shirts