Description
We went to Wat Don Sidaram (วัดดอนสีดาราม) not expecting too much in the way of curious art work. But wow! Our visit proved again how even the tucked way rural temples in Sakon Nakhon (the kind nobody ever visits except local villagers) can turn out to be miniature Thai art galleries with curious things to see.
The most striking statue was a Makara guardian figure with the head of an elephant guarding the entrance. Having visited nearly 200 temples in Sakon Nakhon and neighboring provinces, it's the first time ever we have seen a Makara with an elephant head.
The Makara is a mythological creature from Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions, primarily found in Southeast Asian art. It is often depicted as a hybrid creature with the body of a sea creature, with the head of terrestrial animal. Frequently, a Naga serpent can be seen emerging from its mouth, like you see at the riverside temples of Nakhon Phanom.
Other standout features of Wat Don Sidaram are a gorgeous Ubosot, large Naga serpents on both sides of a bronze Buddha with walking stick, a gold statue of the fat Thai Buddha Phra Songachai, whose stomach is impressively large, beautiful Buddhist paintings inside the Viharn (congregation hall), fascinating hermit statues, and more!
Wat Don Sidaram is the sacred temple of the Ban Na Nok Khao village, which has a well-known candle procession every year at the start of the Buddhist lent period. The entire village turns off their electricity, as the villagers (led by a traditional drum procession) carry large home-made candles to the temple.
This Buddhist temple is located in the Huai Yang sub-district of Sakon Nakhon, about 20 minutes from the Sakon Nakhon Bus Terminal. Nearby you'll find another lovely village temple named Wat Wang Boon (วัดวังบุญ).
