Description
Wat Suwan Nin Chinda Ram (วัดสุวรรณนิลจินดาราม) is a temple best known for being a frequent winner of the Wax Castle Festival. Located about 500 meters south of the Sakon Nakhon Bus Terminal, this peaceful Buddhist temple has a large Viharn (congregation hall) that is beautifully decorated with murals depicting episodes from the life of the Buddha.
As you enter Wat Suwan Nin Chinda Ram, which also goes by the name Wat Kok Som Hong (วัดกกส้มโฮง), you'll be greeted by a large statue of a white elephant, which in Thailand symbolizes both a benevolent king and great auspiciousness.
As you keep walking, you'll see a small pond on the right with a vintage pagoda that houses a gold statue of the Buddha. You'll also see the large pavilion under which the temple's wax castle is constructed, using ancient techniques to create intricate designs made of bees wax. The festival is held every year in October at Sakon Nakhon's famous temple Wat Phra That Choeng Chum in the city center.
At the back end of the temple, you'll find a beautiful white crematorium, which sacred logs enshrined in glass which are used to light the fires that release the individual from their their temporal body.
Wat Suwan Nin Chinda Ram (วัดสุวรรณนิลจินดาราม) translates to The Gold Temple of Rama's Precious Sapphire. Rama is a Hindu deity and the main figure in the Hindu epic called the Ramayana, which served as the inspiration for the Thai Ramakien Epic. Sapphires are one of the four precious gemstones of Hinduism, representing wisdom and good judgement.
