Description
Wat Chinda Mani (วัดจินดามณี) is a small village temple on Highway 22, about 1.7 kilometers past Gypsy Coffee Drip, one of our favorite Sakon Nakhon coffeehouses. The temple is located in Na Hua Bo, in Phanna Nikhom District, which has a number of highly notable Buddhist temples, such as the mountaintop temples of Wat Tham Kham and Phra That Phu Pek, and the famous alternative cancer treatment center at Wat Kham Pramong. However, Phanna Nikhom is a large district and none of these 3 famous temples are nearby, but rather about a 25 minute drive away in different directions.
Wat Chinda Mani has attractive Bo tree on the temple grounds, in front of which is a pavilion with gold Buddha statue and four well-known Thai monks, including Luang Pu Thuat, who lived from 1582-1682 and is said to have performed many miracles. His likeness will often be found on amulets in Thailand.
Wat Chinda Mani has a rather attractively designed gate and archway, making it easily spotted when traveling by on the highway. The kuti (or monk's quarters) is beautifully rustic and the grounds overall are well maintained by the resident monks.
One thing to note about the pronunciation of this temple. A Thai Temple name with a word beginning with the letters "ch" should often be spoken as a "j" sound — as is the case with Wat Chinda Mani (วัดจินดามณี). Due to the legacy of historical transcriptions, Thais often prefer writing the "จ" consonant sound as "ch" even though the sound is closer to a "j" sound.
