Wat Si Rattanaram

Wat Si Rattanaram (วัดศรีรัตนาราม) is a village temple in Tambon Chiang Khruea, not to be confused with several other temples with the same name in Sakon Nakhon, such as the Wat Si Rattanaram in Phanna Nikhom. Temples that go by the Thai name วัดศรีรัตนาราม are also sometimes spelled Wat Sri Rattanaram in English. But since the letter "r" in the Thai word "sri" (meaning glory or honor) is silent, it is also spelled simply as "si".

Wat Si Rattanaram has a beautiful entrance/gate, with a trinity of gold statues of the Buddha across the top. In Christianity there is the trinity (Father, Son & Holy Ghost), and in Buddhism there is a trinity too, known as the Triratna (or Three Jewels): Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, which refer to the divinity of the Buddha, the teachings of the Buddha, and the followers of the path of the Buddha. Three is also a symbol of divine protection, which is why you'll often see three Buddhas atop the archway/entrance to a temple, as we do here at Wat Si Rattanaram.

Wat Si Rattanaram has what appears to be a relatively newly constructed ordination hall, with beautifully carved windows that show scenes from ancient Thai history and the Life of the Buddha. If you walk around to the hidden side of the congregation hall, you'll see see three gold statues of the Buddha, in front of a lovely mural of the Buddha under the Bodhi tree, where local worshipers go to light incense and make merit.

Nearby temples worth visiting include Wat Pa Nong Hoi (with its ancient sema stones) and Wat Nong Bua Sang (with its charming, old ordination hall). Both are within 2 kilometers and thus within walking distance if you are looking for a little exercise, which checking out the charming village surroundings.