Tuesday 13 January 2026
Revisiting the closest temple to Tha Phae Gate

Wat Dok Kham is a small temple very close to Tha Phae Gate, so many tourists who are in the area visit the temple. I can find almost no history on the internet about this temple. The temple grounds are small. And because the viharn door is so close to the sidewalk and the road, what would be the main entrance, on the east end is permanently closed. Entry to the viharn is through the entrance on the north side. I suspect that the east end entrance was once farther from the road, and when the road was widened and the wall moved closer, there was no longer adequate space for a proper entrance.

Here is the sign as I entered the temple grounds.

From the entrance, my first view is of the side of the viharn.

Looking down the narrow space between the east end of the viharn and the wall the closed entrance guarded by the Naga is seen in this angled view. (It is impossible to get directly in front because of the narrow space.)

And at the end of the narrow space between the east end of the viharn and the outside wall is this standing Buddha. The orange wall on the right is the side of the viharn, and the outside wall is on the left. This space is indeed very narrow.

The permanently-closed doors of the viharn are decorated with carved thewada (angelic beings that live in the heavenly realm).

I walked to the side entrance of the viharn so I could look inside.

The viharn is less elaborate than many, almost understated in decoration and appearance.

There is no ubosot (ordination hall) at this temple. Across the open space north of the side of the viharn is a pavilion, almost like a mini viharn. The entrance is guarded by two moms (pronounced like moam), typically found at temples guarding the ho trai (Buddhist and temple document library) if there is one. This pavilion inside looks more like a small viharn. I love the moms-they look so fierce and menacing.

After this brief visit to Wat Dok Kham, I headed back to The 3-Sis to prepare for dinner.

Next: Maybe another adventure or another temple, or another day in the life…I’m not sure.